Plans for a new Lidl and Wickes are now set to see a larger supermarket and a DIY shop nearly double in size. Plans for the development - submitted by Clowes Developments, Lidl and Wickes - would see a Lidl supermarket and Wickes DIY store built on the derelict former Stadium Industrial Park off Nottingham Road and Springfield Avenue in Long Eaton.
A supermarket and DIY store on the site were approved at appeal by a Government planning inspector in 2021 having been rejected by Erewash Borough Council in 2019. Now the companies are back with tweaked plans, increasing the size of the Lidl by 45 square metres, to cover 1,989 square metres, while the Wickes would be doubled in size, increasing by 1,060 square metres to 2,312 square metres.
Meanwhile, the amount of customer car parking has been reduced from 207 spots to 157. The proposed businesses are set to create the same amount of new jobs as before, with a total of 70, 40 at Lidl and 30 at Wickes.
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Council officers have been fairly blunt in their summary that the application effectively cannot be “resisted” on any of the grounds which the Government inspector dismissed in 2021. This includes the perceived negative impact on existing shopping and competing trades in the town.
As such, planning officials have recommended that councillors approve the tweaked plans at a meeting on Wednesday, November 9. In 2019, when officers had recommended that councillors reject the initial Lidl and Wickes scheme, they had claimed the stores had the capability of being a “category killer” in terms of town centre trades, such as DIY supplies, bakers, butchers and greengrocers.
They felt the development could “trigger a further spiral of decline” in the town centre, with a preference to see other sites developed instead. Once the plans were approved at appeal, Steve Birkinshaw, the council’s head of planning, had said: “It is clear that inspectors will always accept the professional view of a retail consultant over those of local planning officers.
“The proposed Lidl supermarket and Wickes DIY superstore were simply not big enough to be regarded as a serious threat to Long Eaton town centre. On the basis of this appeal, a retail impact reason for refusal could only be upheld for a much larger retail development, e.g. a new shopping centre.”
A statement on behalf of the developers, submitted by IMA Architects, says: “The proposed new buildings will not have a detrimental effect on the area, and will help to enhance the area by providing a non-food retail use in an area in which this use will thrive, due to the proximity of nearby residential dwellings.
“A sufficient amount of car parking, van parking and cycle parking is provided as a result of the proposal to ensure that all vehicles visiting the site can sufficiently park on the site. In summary, the proposal has been carefully considered and the high quality design aesthetics ensure the buildings will enhance the area and as such the application should be granted planning consent.”
Two objection letters were submitted to the council in relation to the proposed plans, claiming the area does not need another supermarket, that the development would cause more traffic issues, that it would represent an “eyesore” and that the developers are putting their wishes before those of neighbouring residents.
Deliveries to the site are planned to be restricted to between 6am and 11pmm, while opening hours would stretch from 7am until 11pm Monday to Saturday and 9am until 6pm on Sundays and bank holidays.
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