Decision over plans for new Lidl and drive-thru coffee shop deferred until October

A decision over whether a new supermarket should be built in the town centre has been deferred until next month.

Planning committee members had been expected to debate the plans for the new Lidl and drive-thru coffee shop on the Bodhyfryd site at their meeting yesterday afternoon.

However at the meeting the committee were told to consider deferring the decision to allow the council’s highways department to respond to a series of objections that had been submitted in the past week.

Plans for the redevelopment of the former police station site – including the demolition of the tower – were submitted last August.

At the time Lidl said the store represents a multi-million pound investment in the local area with the company proposing to build a ‘sustainable store with 1,325m² sales area’.

The application had been recommended for approval by the council’s Chief Officer Planning and Regulatory, Lawrence Isted, who stated in his report that the ‘adopted Town Centre Masterplan has identified the Bodhyfryd area as a potential location for mixed use development, including convenience retail.”

He later added: “I am satisfied that the reuse of this previously developed site represents a sustainable use of land which would accord with national and local planning policy. The retail use has been adequately demonstrated and the additional café drive thru could satisfactorily be achieved.

“Cumulatively, the proposal would represent a positive reuse of land in the town centre which would result significant economic benefits. For these reason I recommend accordingly.”

However the plans had been met with concern from local councillors and residents, who said the development could lead to increased congestion at the Asda Roundabout and result in further traffic issues at peak school hours at Alexandra school.

There were also questions over if there is a need for an additional drive-thru coffee shop / supermarket in the town.

In terms of highways the Mr Isted notes in his report that the department do not believe the development would have an “adverse impact upon the local highway network”.

Mr Isted also continues onto say that he is “not convinced that the traffic generated by the proposed development would have a detrimental impact upon the existing access to the school”.

The report is now expected to go before councillors at the October planning meeting.