Discount supermarket giant Lidl is eyeing up a potential new store site in Stone.

Stafford Borough Council has received a screening opinion request in connection with proposals for a food store on land at Stafford Road, near Aston-by-Stone.

The current application's aim is to check whether an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) needs to be carried out as part of future planning proposals for the site.

A site plan submitted as part of the screening opinion request revealed that a Lidl branch is earmarked for the land, with access from the A51.

A covering letter submitted to the council said: "The Screening Opinion request is submitted in support of a full planning application for the erection of a new discount foodstore with associated car parking and landscaping at land at Forge Farm, Stafford Road, Stone.

"The application site measures approximately 1.1ha (11,329sq.m).

"The site comprises agricultural land which benefits from an existing vehicular access from the A51 from the north.

"The proposed foodstore will have a total gross internal area of 2,184 sq.m with a net sales floorspace area of 1,369 sq.m, 126 car parking spaces and a trolley bay located adjacent to the store entrance.

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"With regards to the size and scale of the proposed development, it is considered that the floorplate of the development, the height of the store and the nature of the surrounding built and natural environment would result in minimal local impacts.

"The design and scale of the building is considered to be in keeping with the architecture of the surrounding area and will utilise a muted and modest palette of materials and colours, minimising the visual impact of the development.

"It is considered that the proposed development would not impact on existing or committed development in the locality and would fit into the context of the surrounding area.

"The site occupies a highly sustainable location, with frequent bus services and good pedestrian and cycle connections; footways are provided along the northern side of the A51 and western side of the A34, with nearby bus stops on Stafford Road providing regular services to Stone town centre and Stafford."

Earlier this year it was revealed that Lidl was considering new stores in areas including Stone, Trentham, Cheadle and Biddulph.

Lidl GB chief real estate officer Richard Taylor said: "At Lidl GB, we currently have one of the most ambitious store opening programmes of any supermarket and we are more committed than ever to bringing our high-quality and low-priced products to even more communities across the country."