Lidl has withdrawn contentious plans for a supermarket on Swansea's Mumbles Road. The discount retailer said it had it shelved its proposal for the former Halfway Garage, Blackpill, due to delays in the planning process affecting an arrangement it had with the landowner. Swansea Council, which doesn't own the site, said it was not to blame.
Lidl submitted its application to the council for the one-acre site in October, 2021. A 60-space car park was proposed, according to a transport assessment, along with cycle stands. An extended turn lane was planned for drivers turning right into the car park from Mumbles Road. Ground levels at the site were to be raised to mitigate flood risk, and a pair of adjacent semi-detached houses demolished to make way for the development.
Council planning officers had previously told Lidl it would need to justify the need for and impact of the planned supermarket because it was a "significant retail development" well away from any district shopping centre. Consultants on behalf of Lidl said Swansea West and Gower were not well served in terms of food stores, and that suitable alternative sites hadn't been found. You can get more Swansea news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
