Lidl's plan to demolish Wilko part of Northfield Shopping Centre to build new shop to move forward

The discount retailer chain is seeking permission to bulldoze part of Northfield Shopping Centre, with the specific application site vacant and most recently occupied by Wilko.

If the plans are approved next week, a new Lidl store would be built on the site with 124 car parking spaces and 12 bicycle spaces.

A new pedestrian walkway and ‘associated public realm improvements’ have also been proposed between the retained part of Northfield Shopping Centre and the store to connect Victoria Common and Bristol Road South.

A council report said the plans would secure a “long-term viable use for the site that would contribute positively to the vibrancy and vitality of the Northfield neighbourhood centre”.

It said they would provide a new discount shopping option for the community and create jobs – around 40 in total with a mix of full and part-time opportunities.

The report said the orientation of the store and active frontage towards Bristol Road South would be a “notable enhancement” to the area’s character and appearance.

But it added: “It is considered regrettable the other elevations of the store are somewhat functional and uninspiring in terms of design quality in comparison to the primary elevation of the proposed store.

“However, this is not considered a justifiable reason to refuse the application but rather a missed opportunity to potentially deliver more of a landmark building at this prominent location.”

Concerns were raised regarding the potential lack of landscape improvements as well as adequate tree, shrub and flower planting to ensure long-term survival.

“Weighed in the entire planning balance, they are not considered to outweigh the benefits of the scheme in terms of revitalising a vacant brownfield site and securing a long-term viable use,” the report said.

The report said a range of conditions attached to any grant of planning permission could ensure those matters were “adequately addressed”.

It said: “On balance, the proposed development is considered acceptable and would have no environmental or landscape impacts that would warrant a refusal of planning permission.

“The development would create local construction and retail jobs.

“As such, the development would have a positive economic, social and environmental benefit.”

They will be considered by the city council’s planning committee next Thursday, April 10.

The proposed store opening hours would be 7am to 11pm from Monday to Saturday and 10am to 6pm on Sunday.