Lidl wins planning permission for Warwick supermarket

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 16 Oct, 06:32 · Archive

Lidl has secured planning permission for a new supermarket south of Warwick and Leamington Spa, overcoming objections from Tesco and Co-op.

Lidl has won planning permission for a new supermarket south of Warwick and Leamington Spa after defeating objections from Tesco and Co-op. The development would involve demolishing the vacant Europa House and Wanzl building on the edge of the Heathcote Industrial Estate and constructing a supermarket in its place.

Tesco and Co-op objected to the scheme and hired external planning consultants to block it. Their challenge centred on a 'sequential test', planning regulations designed to protect town centre vibrancy. These rules require applicants seeking out-of-town sites to first evaluate whether developments could be located within town centres or on their periphery. The rival chains argued that Lidl had not sufficiently demonstrated that the Covent Garden Car Park in Leamington could not accommodate the proposed store.

Lidl's planning consultants Rapleys responded that the car park was too small. They noted that the council's own independent consultants Lambert Smith Hampton, along with the council itself, had agreed that Covent Garden could be discounted. They also pointed to the car park's status as a potential housing growth location within the emerging South Warwickshire Local Plan. District councillors had initially been due to review the application in September but pulled it from the agenda to obtain further clarity on the sequential test before giving approval.

How it is being reported

• Lidl wins planning permission for new Warwick store despite Tesco and Co-op objectionsLidl has secured planning permission for a new supermarket in Warwick district, overcoming objections from rival chains Tesco and Co-op for the out-of-town development south of Warwick and Leamington Spa.CoventryLive · 16 Oct, 06:09
• Lidl sees off Tesco and Co-op gripes to build Heathcote store near Leamington and WarwickLidl has won a battle against Tesco and Co-op to gain planning permission for a new out-of-town store to the south of Warwick and Leamington.Leamington Courier · 15 Oct, 14:17

In this story: Lidl · Tesco · Co-op · Warwick · Leamington Spa · Heathcote Industrial Estate

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