Lidl wins Workington approval, plans Stockport store
Tesco’s legal challenge against the Allerdale-area store has been struck down by the courts. Meanwhile, a consultation has launched for a store in Cheadle Heath.
Workington court victory
Planning permission had been granted for the Workington store by Allerdale Council at its March development panel meeting. The store was always going to be controversial, sitting off New Bridge Road and next to a Tesco.
Tesco subsequently filed a legal challenge to overturn Allerdale’s decision and block the store. The challenge hinged on a planning offer’s report about a planning policy, which the retail giant alleged could have misled the councillors.
Justice Fordham with the High Court disagreed. In addition to upholding the council’s decision, Fordham ordered Tesco to pay £25,000 in legal costs.
David Murphy, the regional head of property at Lidl GB’s Newton Aycliffe office, said the retailer was “delighted” by the ruling.
“As a discount supermarket, we exist to provide households with access to great quality food at affordable prices,” Murphy said.
“For the communities we serve, this is more important now than ever before, and as the cost-of-living-crisis deepens we know that any delays to a Lidl store opening in Workington would have come as a huge blow to many.”
Murphy went on to say that he was looking forward to construction beginning soon.
Cheadle Heath consultation
Meanwhile, in Greater Manchester Lidl is at work drumming up support for a 20,780 sq ft store off Stockport Road in Cheadle Heath. The store represents a multi-million-pound investment, according to Lidl officials, and would create 40 obs.
The store itself would boast a 13,460 sq ft sales area, alongside an in-store bakery. Facilities in the store would include toilets that have baby-changing facilities.
Of the 104 proposed car parking spaces, there would be six spaces reserved for those who are disabled, nine for parents and children, and four with electric vehicle charging capability.
“We are delighted to announce plans to bring a new Lidl supermarket to serve Cheadle Heath,” said Robert Lawton, regional head of property at Lidl’s Manchester office.
“The new store will provide the community with greater access to high quality, affordable produce and we hope that as many people as possible are able to participate in this public consultation. We look forward to sharing our plans and look forward to receiving feedback from the local residents.”
Those looking to engage with the consultation can visit tinyurl.com/lidl-cheadleheath.
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Another out of centre Lidl designed for the car-centric culture. If you can justify the store put it at the front of the site with ready access for pedestrians and good, secure cycle parking. And then resi – perhaps 5 storeys of it – above. Car park around the back for those who feel they have no choice.
By Martin Cranmer
@Martin Cramner have you ever tried doing your ‘weekly shop’ without a car? 6 storey building on Stockport would dominate the kerbside, probably why the store is set back so it’s less intrusive.
By Extinct Logic
Would be quite a sight to see someone navigate their weekly family food shop worth of bags on a cycle.
By New Wave
@Extinct Logic. Most weeks. Family of 4.
The store isn’t set back to be less intrusive. The store is set back because the designers have no imagination and have gone with their template bog standard store on a main road with the carpark out front. 6 storeys or whatever – meeting our housing needs should come before yet more supermarkets.
By Martin Cranmer
Look at the recently completed Lidl store with housing above (ok, not quite as high as I suggested) on Upper High Street in Epsom. It is entirely possible, it just requires a little bit more effort. Site in Epsom is little more than half the size of the one in Cheadle Heath.
By Martin Cranmer
Dangerous for a retailer however big to start trying to JR other retailers decisions, generally doesn’t end well. Must be worried about competition nibbling its monopolies
By Tannoy
Great news
By Cheryl elford
This proposed store is directly facing the road I live on and the junction to the m60 motorway, causing traffic issues. Why we need yet another supermarket in the Cheadle heath area when we have a Tesco’s which will be next door and a Morrison and Aldi just meters away. Also there is a Lidl just half a mile away in Cheadle so why there needs to be another store i do not know. This new store will certainly have a large impact on the traffic at this part of Stockport road which can become congested at the best of times.
By Anonymous
What’s happening to the plans for the lidl in North Reddish
By Anonymous
This would be a great place for a new store in Cheadle Heath.
By John wood
No problem with the store, as a local I would use it! BUT I am very, very concerned with the traffic problems that it would cause to an already congested main road! It is such hard work to get out onto the road from the residential estate already, that adding more vehicles would make this stretch of road a definite nightmare, even worse that it is now!! On a road that already has numerous entrance and exits into various stores, lots of vehicles, plus a motorway roundabout, over a quite short distance, it will become a major accident waiting to happen!! Sorry, but it really does bother me!!!
By Dave