Lidl lines up replacement store in Doncaster

Plans have been lodged with the city council as the discount grocer looks to upsize its store at Sandford Road in Balby.

Advised by planner Lichfields, Lidl GB is proposing to demolish the existing, 25-year old 13,815 sq ft store at the site, and replace it with a 23,499 sq ft store. This would have a sales area of 16,452 sq ft.

Parking provision at the location would also be increased, from 85 to 121 spaces.

The site is accessed from Sunningdale Road, and lies around 2km from Doncaster centre.

Lichfields said in its planning statement that operating from a smaller store now a quarter-century old now “falls some way short” of a modern Lidl format and is “therefore compromised” in offering the expanded range the supermarket group now offers, having matured into a serious player in the UK supermarket sector.

A previous application from Lidl was lodged in 2016, which covered a bid for a store of 26,577 sq ft, including a sales area of 15,322 sq ft. Although approved, the consent was never implemented. Nevertheless, said Lichfields, the process establishes a “clear precedent”.

The site would be reconfigured – whereas the current store is in the north-eastern corner, its replacement would be built to the south-western edge, allowing for two parking areas. Although the footprint will change, the existing store will have to close for much of the construction period due to site constraints, however. Lidl said employees would be accommodated at other stores in the area.

Pre-application discussions have taken place with council officers, covering such areas as the need for a landscaping plan and tree planting.

Lidl’s professional team includes SLR, Thomson Environmental Consultants, Enevo, DDA, Environmental Noise Solutions, Remada, and Cora.

Want to know more? Head to City of Doncaster Council’s planning portal, using the reference 26/01411/FULM.