A new Lidl will soon begin construction in a Nottinghamshire town despite opposition from a rival supermarket. Work can now start on a Lidl store on the grounds of Hucknall Town Football club on Watnall Road, Hucknall after Ashfield District Council granted planning permission on July 20.
The site is currently used by Hucknall Town Football Club, who are relocating to a new ground on Aerial Way close to their existing ground. Lidl have said the store will allow the club to relocate to an improved, expanded premise and improve the appearance of the area.
They added the supermarket will "deliver improved economic opportunities without the loss of the existing sport facilities; and improve grocery choice and competition for residents of Hucknall". The proposed Hucknall store will benefit from wider aisles, baby changing facilities, longer tills, and a customer toilet.
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But the plans were opposed by rival supermarket giant Tesco, who have a store on Ashgate Road. Martin Robeson planning practice, acting on behalf of Tesco, argued the plan should be refused due of the "lack of an appropriate and robust retail impact assessment bearing in mind the scale of the proposal in the context of the size of Hucknall town centre".
Tesco suggested Ashfield District Council’s consultant confirmed alternative two sites, the Sandicliffe Ford and Piggins Croft car park, could accommodate the application proposals "in a way that would substantially benefit the health and well-being of the town centre into the long term". Representatives for Tesco also said "inappropriate weight" was placed upon alleged job creation benefits.
The proposed Lidl store will generate up to 40 new full and part-time jobs, with the company suggesting most of these will go to local people. Lidl expect the store to add £2 million gross value per year to the local economy.
The new shop will be served by 140 parking spaces, including six disabled parking spaces and nine parent and child spaces, together with five Sheffield hoops for bicycles. Pedestrian access routes are provided included from both Watnall Road and the adjacent residential development plot, giving access to the proposed building.
In a planning document, Hadfield Cawkwell Davidson on behalf of Lidl, said: "The design and layout of the proposal has been developed to function well for the required use and adds to the overall quality of the area. The position and orientation of the building, the vehicular and pedestrian links and the proposed landscaping have been designed to create an attractive environment.
"The development has been designed to be legible and safe. The treatment of the perimeter of the site has been developed so not to encourage crime. The layout, building and landscaping has been designed not to provide any hidden areas, dead ends or areas that do not benefit from natural surveillance and therefore could encourage anti-social behaviour."
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