LOW-COST supermarket giant Lidl has won a public inquiry into building its first store in Oxfordshire, despite opposition from Oxford City Council planners.

The store, in Watlington Road, Cowley, Oxford, is expected to open early next year and provide jobs for up to 40 people.

For the past 12 years the firm has been seeking sites to build a store in Oxford and identified land left by a former car showroom, in Watlington Road, as its first choice two years ago.

Oxford City Council rejected the plan twice, and after it was turned down in December, Lidl launched an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.

A spokesman for Lidl said: "We are really pleased after a lot of hard work we have managed to win the appeal and we are looking forward to opening the store early next year. If we could build it tomorrow, then we would. The site has been on the cards for four or five years and we are pleased we have finally come to this conclusion."

Lidl expect to recruit up to four or five managers and 30 part-time staff working about 30 hours a week, all from Blackbird Leys and Cowley.

Existing buildings from the former Hartwell Ford showroom on the corner of Watlington Road and Transport Way will be demolished and replaced with a new two-storey building. The supermarket will be housed on the first floor, beneath office space available to let.