Planning permission has been granted for a Lidl supermarket in Bath.
Bath and North East Somerset Council has confirmed that an application to develop the western half of the former Herman Miller building, in Lower Bristol Road, was approved this week.
Work is expected to start shortly and the store will be open towards the end of the year.
Residents and local councillors have long been campaigning for a budget supermarket in the city, and the Lidl scheme has been six years in the making.
B&NES Council's cabinet member for homes and planning Councillor Tim Ball welcomed the news.
He said: "The council have been very proactive with Lidl to bring the permission toward a conclusion.
"We are really pleased that a new lower-cost shop will soon be available for the residents in this part of the city as well as creating new jobs.
"It will provide a much-needed facility as well as finding a new use for a listed building that can contribute towards the city's overall regeneration."
Lidl will convert half of the grade two listed factory into a supermarket, with a car park for 73 vehicles.
A spokesman said: "We are delighted that Bath and North East Somerset Council have approved this planning application and we are looking forward to delivering this new store to Bath in late 2014. This timescale will allow us to complete major highway works as well as the conversion of the Grade II Herman Miller factory building. We would like to take this opportunity to thank local residents and councillors for their support towards this application and we look forward to welcoming new and existing customers through the doors next year."
It owns the empty site with developer Acornford Hampshire but despite earlier planning applications being made jointly, the two firms are now proceeding with their individual plans separately.
The Lidl store will create 40 jobs, and Councillor Sharon Ball (Lib Dem, Westmoreland) added: "Residents have been wanting this store for a long time and have become increasingly disappointed by the delays.
"It will not only mean a badly-neglected site being cleaned up, but more local jobs being created."
B&NES Council hopes the Lidl application being approved will be the catalyst for the development of the eastern part of the building.
