Plans for Lidl store in Brownhill Way set to be approved

Plans for a new Lidl store in Brownhill Way are set to go before Southampton City Council’s planning committee today.

It comes after the German retailer won a planning battle to build a new access road for the site.

Plans for the supermarket had hit a setback after Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) rejected plans to build an access road from Frogmore Lane.

Lidl bosses had asked the council for permission to turn a pedestrian and cycle path on Frogmore Lane into a new road to access the proposed supermarket.

But planning chiefs at TVBC rejected the proposals due to “insufficient information”.

Lidl subsequently launched an appeal with the National Planning Inspectorate.

But TVBC later pulled their objection after an appeal on the same site, for a similar development, was allowed.

In his ruling, inspector Patrick Whelan said he had "no reason" to disagree with the council's position.

Now plans for the supermarket itself are to go before Southampton City Council’s planning committee tonight, with planning chiefs recommending the proposals be approved.

If plans are accepted Lidl hopes to build a single storey food store with 158 car parking spaces on the greenfield site off Brownhill Way – just metres from its regional distribution centre.

According to plans, the store will be permitted to be open from 7am to 10pm on Monday to Saturday and 10am and 5pm on Sundays.

In a report, set to be discussed tonight, planning chiefs said: “The store would be consistent with the character of the area and would not have a detrimental impact on the nearby residential properties.”

Sally Spicer, Labour councillor for Rebridge ward, also said she supported the proposals.

She said: "I am supportive of this Lidl development and I believe it will bring healthy competition for the area at a more affordable level.

"Residents have said from the local area estate that it would be easy to walk here.

"They expressed concerns around traffic and we have been working with Lidl on this."

If proposals are accepted, it will Lidl’s fifth supermarket in Southampton.

Lidl currently has stores in Southampton’s High Street, as well as in Shirley, Thornhill, and Woolston.

Plans for a new store in Banister Road are under consideration.