Lidl has owned this site for several years and previously obtained planning permission for a store with residential dwellings above. All efforts have been made to deliver the approved scheme, but this is not possible for viability reasons. However, Lidl is confident that a standalone foodstore to serve the local community, as now proposed, can be delivered in a short timeframe.
Following public consultation, Lidl has amended the scheme in direct response to stakeholder feedback, including adding a new pedestrian footpath off Billet Lane to improve accessibility. Additional green planting has also been added to the store front area. The submitted proposals now include:
A bespoke enhanced store design build. This specially designed store features a mixture of brickwork and rendering to ensure the store fits appropriately with its surroundings
A new landscaping scheme will propose new planting on the boundaries where possible to enhance the site
Accessed from High Street/ Gossoms End, there will be 89 customer parking spaces including accessible, parent & child, EV chargers, and cycle parking
Around 40 jobs for local people, including full and part-time roles. Lidl GB pay rates for hourly-paid colleagues is a minimum of £12.75 per hour, increasing to £13.65 with length of service
Lidl has an ongoing commitment to enhance the environmental sustainability of its stores. A range of technology is used in-store to minimise energy use, while rapid electric vehicle chargers are provided in the parking area and solar panels are included
The store will only have between one and two deliveries per day, rising to three at peak times like Christmas and Easter. The deliveries will unload stock and take away any recycling during the same trip. No waste from the store is stored externally.
