Disagreement over design of new Lidl store in Blackburn

A formal planning application has been lodged to Blackburn with Darwen Council proposing to build a new Lidl supermarket and create 40 jobs at the Fix Auto site, off Furthergate.

A pre-application advice meeting was held and council bosses recommended putting the car park and service yard at the back of the site but Lidl representatives said this would go against company policy and have pushed ahead with their preferred design.

A design and access statement submitted as part of the application reads: "The proposed layout incorporates parking and servicing to the front of the site adjacent to Furthergate, with the store building to the rear (south) of the site.

"Blackburn with Darwen Council suggested parking and servicing may benefit from being located to the rear of the site and the store building to the front of the site.

"However, there are two key issues which prevent this layout from being feasible.

"Firstly, due to the shape of the site, if the store building was relocated so it fronted onto Furthergate, this would create an undevelopable parcel of land to the east of the site.

"The sterilisation of this land would also decrease the number of parking spaces which can be created and cause issues in terms of deliveries to the foodstore.

"Secondly, this design would not be in accordance with Lidl’s operational requirements. The car park is required to be at the front of the store to attract pass-by trade, which is key to Lidl’s business model."

"Therefore the council’s alternative proposal is considered to have a negative impact on store revenue, and in the long term, to have a detrimental impact on the viability and longevity of the store.

"Therefore, it is considered that the design approach taken, offers a high quality design solution to provide retail floorspace, whilst meeting both Lidl’s operational requirements and customer expectations, in accordance with relevant policy requirements."