HUNDREDS of people headed to Northfield Shopping Centre yesterday to view the plans for the proposed new Lidl for the town.
The development would see some of the shopping centre – past the lifts – bulldozed to make way for the modern new building.
The food store, which will bring 40 new jobs, will be 2,172sq metres and will include 97 standard parking bays, six disabled bays, nine parent and child spaces and two with rapid EV (electric vehicle chargers).
An improved access point, off Bristol Road South (A38), is proposed in the northern corner of the site, as well as a ‘HGV only’ access off Bristol Road South, in the south-west corner of the site.
The surrounding area will also be landscaped and improved.
‘Positive response’
Acquisition consultant Robin Canning, who was at the showcase afternoon, said: “Almost all of the people who came to see the plans were positive towards a new Lidl for Northfield.
“Everyone is looking forward to having another discount food chain and many were asking about timescales.
“This will be a major investment for both Lidl and Northfield.”
The supermarket giant’s representatives have already had a pre-application meeting with Birmingham City Council.
The planning application will be submitted to the authority in the coming weeks and the team at Lidl is hoping for a positive outcome by spring.
Once planning permission is in place, the store would be built after that.
‘Northfield store a long time coming’
Lidl’s head of property Rachel Hargreaves said: “This has been a long time coming – we have been looking for a site to bring a Lidl to Northfield for more than ten years.
“And, judging by what people have said, the local community want it as much as we do.”
Mr Canning added: “A lot of people were excited by the fact it would be central and easy to get to – whether you want to come by car, by bus or walk here.”
People who were unable to make the presentation can visit the special dedicated web page http://lidlnorthfield.rapleys.com/ for more and to comment on the proposals.
Currently, the next nearest Lidl stores are in Kings Heath, Bromsgrove and Halesowen.
