Supermarket and drive-thru coffee shop set for approval – claims existing stores in town ‘over trade’ so new ones needed

Plans to build a new supermarket and a drive-thru coffee shop in Wrexham town centre could be approved next week.

Last year the discount retailer announced that contracts had been exchanged with North Wales Police to build a supermarket on the site of the now vacant police station on Bodhyfryd.

An application for the new supermarket and a drive-thru coffee shop on the former police station site was 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’.

Next week members of Wrexham Council’s planning committee will be asked to approve the proposed redevelopment of the site – which also includes the demolition of the police tower block.

In his report due before councillors, the council’s Chief Officer Planning and Regulatory, Lawrence Isted, notes that the ‘adopted Town Centre Masterplan has identified the Bodhyfryd area as a potential location for mixed use development, including convenience retail.”

However a series of concerns from local councillors and residents have been raised about the proposed development – including increased congestion at the Asda Roundabout, the questioning if there is a need for an additional drive-thru coffee shop / supermarket in the town, further traffic issues at peak school hours at Alexandra school and an increase in dust and pollution.

In terms of highways the planning report notes 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”.

Addressing the need for another supermarket in the town, Mr Isted states that alternatives spaces in the town are not appropriate – with reference made to trading data which is five years old.

In his report, he continues onto say: “The applicant has provided an assessment of need as the development would fall outside of a defined primary shopping area or retail designation.

“To prove a quantitative need for the development, the applicant has considered the findings of the council’s retail assessment carried out in order to support the deposit LDP.

“This effectively shows that there is an apparent need for additional convenience floor space in the County Borough, taking into account previously committed and approved schemes.

“It is also accepted that there is a need for additional comparison retail floor space.

“The applicant has applied Lidl’s (the proposed end user) average sales figures in relation to the proposed floor area. It results in figures which can be accommodated within the need identified by the Council’s assessment.

“The applicant has also noted that their assessment has also noted several stores within the town centre are over trading by approximately £75m in 2014.

“Even with retail offers that have been consented since 2014, I am satisfied that there are likely to be stores, especially within the town centre that are overtrading.

“With the acceptance that existing stores are overtrading, the provision of a food store in this location is likely provide additional choice for potential customers.

“The provision of a modern store environment within the environs of Wrexham Town Centre providing a range of convenience and comparison goods is also considered to demonstrate a qualitative need.”

Mr Isted concludes: “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.”

If approved it will be the third Lidl supermarket in Wrexham and the second within the town centre perimeter.

The application will be considered for approval by planning committee members on Monday 2nd September.

Pics from public planning documents