LIDL has submitted a planning application for a supermarket on the former Bradford & Bingley site, in Bingley town centre.

The application, for the Main Street site, has been made to Bradford Council after the chain bought the land from rivals Sainsbury’s earlier this year.

The plans include a total of 116 parking spaces, consisting of 101 standard bays, seven disabled spaces and eight parent and toddler bays.

A substation on the two-acre site will be retained as part of the proposal, which includes pedestrian access from Thrift Way. Lidl has also submitted an application to the Council to sell alcohol between 7am and 11pm every day.

Councillors and business bosses in Bingley welcomed the news, saying it was long awaited.

Howard Martin, honorary president of Bingley Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said: “It will be nice to finally see things start.

“It has been an empty site in a prime location for far too long.

“This will hopefully help with the revitalisation of Bingley town centre.

“It’s been a long time coming but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

“It is great that Lidl have the faith in Bingley to put their money where their mouth is.”

Cllr David Heseltine (Con, Bingley) said: “It’s good that Lidl has published their plans for the application.

“It will allow residents and businesses to take a look at what is proposed, and hopefully support the scheme going forward.”

A Lidl spokesman said if approved, building work would begin early next year and the supermarket would be open in early 2019.

Graham Burr, Lidl UK’s regional head of property, said: “If granted, this would mark a multi-million-pound investment in the area, and the creation of new jobs when the store opens.

“We would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone for their support and feedback so far and look forward to receiving the decision in due course.”

The site has previously been described as an eyesore.

Sainsbury’s bought the site in 2010 and won planning permission to demolish the building and construct a new store in 2011. But in April 2015, as demolition was going ahead, the chain put the site on the market.

The former B&B headquarters, which previously stood at the site, was built in 1975, with a design inspired by the nearby Five Rise Locks.