Lidl Cheadle Heath, Lidl, p via planning documents

Councillors did not hold back as they threw out Lidl's plans. Credit: via planning documents

Stockport rejects ‘disgusting’ Lidl planning bid

Stockport Council has knocked back plans for a store in Cheadle Heath, saying the scheme “fails to provide a suitable quality appearance and establish a strong sense of place”.

Plans submitted via agent Rapleys sought permission for a 20,600 sq ft Lidl on two acres off Stockport Road at Cheadle Heath Works.

Councillors raised concerns about congestion at already pressured junctions, pedestrian safety, and questioned the necessity of a supermarket on the site.

Cllr David Meller, Stockport’s Labour group leader, said: “For me, adding a supermarket on that road on top of everything else would be a disaster.

“I hope Lidl sell the site, and it is used for housing because that’s what we really need.”

Cllr Jilly Julian, cabinet member for finance and resources, added: “I feel like there’s a huge amount of local resident fear and anxiety around this.”

The well-attended Cheadle Heath area committee unanimously rejected the plans that would have also seen a 102-space car park built on the site.

A large aspect of the controversy were allegations of Lidl’s “mischief” after the chain sent out flyers independently promoting the scheme to residents, an act Cllr Meller called “disgusting”.

Lidl first lodged its planning application for the store in February 2023. Designs for the store were drawn up by HTC Architects.

To view the application, use the reference number DC/087761 in Stockport’s planning portal.

Your Comments

Read our comments policy

Tells us what you really think! Appeal with costs against the Council again?

By Middle Aisle

NIMBYISM gone mad. I would be willing to bet a lot of money that if someone does propose housing on the site they won’t like that either.

By Anonymous

With a bit of imagination Lidl could retain some or all of the attractive ‘works’ building façade and incorporate it in to the new store design. If the whole site is to be redeveloped, then why not have underground parking so some land at the back could be used for housing facing Nursery Lane.

By GetItBuilt!

So the applicant putting in a bit of effort to show the number of people who support their scheme – rather than it just being the objectors and naysayers being listened to as usual – is “disgusting”? And therefore presumably the residents who gave their support are also disgusting and up to mischief?
Anyone would think this is a highly marginal ward and the ward councillors were just doing the usual Stockport thing of competing to see who could be most outraged on behalf of the local Nimby vote regardless of any other consideration.
Successful appeal from Lidl and hopefully a cost order against SMBC incoming!

By Electioneer

@ January 31, 2025 at 11:08 am
By GetItBuilt!

Common sense and constructive, unlike those that shriek ‘NIMBY!’

By Rye

It is a bit disappointing that Aldi and Lidl don’t have more urbanism friendly standard designs, but Jeez what makes Stockport so special, it’s hardly Belgravia.

By Rich X

As someone who lives behind the planned site, it was ridiculous this was even proposed. There is a new Lidil on Councillor Lane (2mins away) and an Aldi 30 seconds down the street. What was this proposed supermarket solving? More housing and better traffic infrastructure is needed in cheadle

By Anonymous

Why not put some flats on top of the store – get better use of the land

By Barrington

Lidl have shown no regard for the concerns of residents and they are not welcome in Cheadle Heath.

By Mark Addison

We have a Morrisons, Aldi and Teco express in close proximity of the site, we don’t need a 4th being Lidl plus there is a lidl about a mile away.

By L Lawson

To label it disgusting is ridiculous. 😂🤡

By Paul

Why do lidl want a store here, they have one on councillor Lane?

By Anonymous

To posh to Lidl?

By Vanessa Fox

Glad it has been knocked back. Hopefully the historic Deanprint building can be repurposed rather than yet more housing! Not a helpful suggestion from Mr Mellor who’s recent track record includes installing an open cubicle for shoppers to sit in on Cheadle High Street now scrapped as the only thing to go in it was litter. Also blocking off roads on my housing estate to prevent driving from one side to the other. Another ridiculous idea. Can’t wait for the next good idea he comes up with! 🤣

By R White

Lidl own the site so if you think they are not going to build a store think again nimbys, as for housing yhat will create many more car movements than lidl

By Bob32

Great to see in Stockport we aren’t passives in the ridiculous supermarket wars in this country. They’re throwing them in with the least amount of effort and trying to use their clout to push them through. Unsuitable site and hope they offload the land to SMBC for some affordable housing. It’s not NIMBYism to want homes instead of a supermarket (when there are three others within spitting distance)

By Tony Miao

Good result! Forget the Lidl store, I have no problem with the building! The main problem is the traffic congestion. To cut it short, it is a nightmare now and the so-called plans put forward are totally inadequate. This plan is making what is already awful into a nightmare!! I’d go as far to say that the planners of this development have lost the plot in their traffic plan!! Does money come before safety?? As for NIMBY, no, just telling it as I see it – literally!!!

By Kenilworth Road resident

I think the comments about it being disgusting are a bit far and Lidl are entitled to persuade people. A lot from other commenters here about NIMBYs which is such a lazy argument.

According to these people it’s never wrong to build anything. In some countries they have proper planning laws where there is actually a plan. Here it’s just a free for all to developers making minging buildings, and putting no money into infrastructure.

It’s not about whether Stockport is special or ‘like Belgravia’. But to me it is common sense of most people don’t want something to say no. Especially if the need is basically already met.

Lots of city centre types don’t understand that people move to places like Stockport because they like green space, there’s no wrong or right in this and we need to build. But please be considerate of why many people might have genuine reasons for not wanting developments, just as there are necessary reasons why they must go somewhere.

By Anonymous

Reddish was supposed to have an unwanted Lidl at tha junction of Longford Road West and Gorton Road another busy junction in an urban traffic corridor which makes it a health ha@ard already. No one in the council appears to have any interest I this long-standing impasse.

By Patricia Ruaune

If Lidl, had been built, one of the existing supermarkets in the area would have shut down. There is nowhere near enough customers for that many stores.

By Anonymous

I’m a Cheadle Heath resident and was in favour of this development.A housing estate will not mitigate traffic flow and congestion and the eyesore factory that still sits boarded up on the a busy main road,what is the point behind that ? or am I too disgusting to have my own point of view.I know which party won’t be getting my vote next time around.

By Normski

With the neighbouring Tesco and roundabout leading to the M60, a Lidl would cause traffic chaos no matter what the highway engineers say. The front elevation of the store would be typically bland and plastered with adverts just like all Lidl stores. No thanks!

By Anonymous

Disguisting, fear, anxiety ….really, or just or exploitative rhetoric by the Councillors. It’s a supermarket like hundreds of others across the region in similar locations, brownfield in a suburb of a growing region. I suspect this one is destined for Appeal.

By Lex Icon

Do not need another supermarket already got enough well done Stockport Council

By Phil Fox

Do we really need more housing It’s well known the population is falling

By Anonymous

Related Articles

Sign up to receive the Place Daily Briefing

Join more than 13,000 property professionals and receive your free daily round-up of built environment news direct to your inbox

Subscribe

Join more than 13,000 property professionals and sign up to receive your free daily round-up of built environment news direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you are agreeing to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

"*" indicates required fields

Your Job Field*
Other regional Publications - select below