Plans by supermarket giant Lidl to demolish and expand their current store on Foots Cray High Street are expected to be rejected next week.

Bexley Council’s planning board is set to consider the proposition at a meeting on Monday, which would see the store and an adjoining warehouse demolished to make way for a larger store, new office space and five three-bedroom town houses.

It’s the second time Lidl have pushed for the scheme, after their application for a similar proposal was denied last year amid concerns it would lead to an unacceptable loss of industrial floorspace with the warehouse being demolished.

Despite the most recent application adding office space to the plan, council officers have still recommended it be rejected.

In a report to be discussed at the meeting, council officers acknowledge “there are benefits to this proposal, such as an enlarged retail store, housing, employment and the introduction of office space”.

However, officers also state “these benefits do not overcome the resultant loss of industrial floorspace”.

The proposal has the support of its Sidcup ward councillors, June Slaughter and Richard Diment.

“The redeveloped store will be a benefit for residents. The new homes on the site will be a welcome contribution to increasing housing stock. These will provide a catalyst for further improvements in the area,” Cllr Diment wrote in support of the application.

Cllr Slaughter added the improved car park would be a big improvement over the current “awful” one servicing the site and would be welcomed by residents.

Bexley’s planning committee will meet on June 1.