Lidl signs at Lime Street
Developer Ion has agreed terms with discount supermarket Lidl for an 18,000 sq ft store at its Lime Street development in Liverpool city centre.
The development also includes a 101-bed Premier Inn hotel, 412 student bedrooms and further retail and leisure units.
Ion said a deal with a pub and restaurant operator will soon be announced for 6,500 sq ft, and said interest is strong in the remaining space Contractor ISG delivered the scheme’s 28,000 sq ft of retail space at the scheme to shell-and-core to build in flexibility on the units.
Lidl has been one of the growth businesses in the grocery sector in recent years, continuing to invest in stores while the established names have pulled back from new ventures.
Stuart Jardine, UK regional head of property at Lidl, said: “We are delighted to be opening a new store in the city centre of Liverpool, which marks another milestone in our ambitious store expansion programme. We’ve seen incredible demand for Lidl stores across the country and look forward to offering our quality products and incredible value to shoppers in and around Liverpool city centre.”
Steve Parry, managing director of Ion said: ‘It has always been important to us to reflect the roots of Lime Street through this development. Lime Street was traditionally a street where entertainment married harmoniously with retail.
“The façade created by Anthony Brown tells the story of the history of the street – from the penny bazaar to the cinemas and the milk bars. We want Lime Street to once again become a street that is busy with life, commerce and entertainment.”
Ion’s Lime Street project is set to reach completion within weeks. Ion’s partners in the scheme are Sigma and Liverpool City Council and Broadway Malyan and IBI Group have designed the project. The scheme is bookended by two listed pubs, The Crown and The Vines.
Somewhat underwhelming after all the blether about this being a key gateway to the city, etc etc.
Whilst acknowledging the economics of the case, what a disappointment to lose a terrace of mixed historical facades for something that will looked dated in three years’ time and which houses a discount supermarket.
By Sceptical
This is a very odd choice for this location. Perhaps it is fitting for the underwhelming building that has gone up though…
By Anonymous
Possibly the ugliest new build in the north.
By Anon
Here lies Joe’s 10 year legacy. A rubbish looking buildings on a key gateway site, and a LidL.
Are the Puppets some kind of in-joke at the peoples expense?
By Mike
I can live with this. Lidl is actually a decent offer. Better than a dodgy Irish Bar promoting street drinking. Too many people in this city can never be satisfied. Sadly it’s one of the few downsides of Liverpool
By CMW
Yeah, exactly what we want visitors to see when they arrive at Slime Street.
The historic splendour of St. Georges Hall to the right, a European discount supermarket with a grey cardboard facade to the left.
By Bob
I think some people are being a bit disingenuous, here, I objected to the original plans which looked like damp walls with moss on them, I am not exactly enamoured with the new renders, somebody says they look like the old Caramel chocolate, but they may have been instructed to be that colour because when you look along Lime Street, St Georges Hall, is in the same line of vision and they may have done this so it did not affect the view? As for Lidl, I detect a smidgen of snobbery here, they supply a great deal for families on a budget and also sell continental fayre which is not available elsewhere and reminds me of my time in Europe.
By Man on bicycle
Under Joes leadership, the city has produced some of the worst Built Environment for a generation. Really undermines the legacy of all the good things that happened in the previous decade. Sad, sad, times for the city, but this ones a new low….
By Gangsta!
When does the second phase begin…
The old ABC cinema?
By Tercol
Is that actually the finished product? I thought it was just a temporary hoarding…..
By Moomo
Does anyone know when this is opening?
By Just wondering