In 2023, Lidl submitted its first planning software to construct a brand new grocery store in Westover Retail Park, plans have been rejected as the appliance “failed to provide land for a walking and cycling network”.
Lidl submitted an amended proposal in April 2025, which features a devoted cycle route in Castle Lane West which has decreased the dimensions of the automobile park and retailer.
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The proposal will enable for 75 automobile parking areas, 5 of those areas might be disabled bays, six might be designated for father or mother and little one parking, and two areas can have electrical automobile charging amenities.
Cycle parking may even be supplied with 29 areas out there.
Planning paperwork say that “the current proposal represents a significant economic investment, retains and creates jobs, and replaces existing uses that do not make the most efficient use of the site”.
Four letters of objections to the plans have been acquired which incorporates issues over site visitors, congestion, parking stress, and the positioning being extra appropriate for housing.
One of the objections is from rival grocery store Tesco, which mentioned Lidl’s plans ignore key planning coverage, don’t use the land successfully, would trigger transport and sustainability issues, and correct modelling of potential retail impacts is required from Lidl because it at present has two dwell planning purposes for shops (one in Bournemouth and one in Poole).
The software has been known as in to committee by Councillor Joe Salmon resulting from persevering with and unresolved conflicts with nationwide and native planning coverage,” he additionally has issues in regards to the dimension and design of the event as it’s nonetheless “visually poor” and “overly box-like”.
The committee was initially meant to listen to the proposal at a gathering in January 2026 however the assembly was deferred to permit points to be resolved and to make clear issues raised by each the applicant and an objector.
The up to date committee report says that the Highway Officer is now happy with the dedication of land for a brand new cycle lane.
The proposal will now be mentioned at an jap planning committee assembly on March 19, the place a choice is anticipated to be made.
