PLANS for a new Lidl supermarket in Northfield have been refused by Birmingham City Council’s planning committee.
The proposal was for part of the existing Northfield Shopping Centre to be demolished and the supermarket to be built, along with access, parking and landscaping.
There would be access to the 67.2m by 38.2m building from the Bristol Road South / A38 and a link would have been maintained from the road to Victoria Common so the park could still be accessed in the same way it is now.
The store was expected to bring 40 jobs to the town.
There would also be 124 car parking spaces at the proposed store, which included nine parent and child spaces and seven spaces for people with mobility issues, and two electric vehicle charging spaces. And there would be 12 bicycle
spaces provided via the installation of six Sheffield cycle stands to be positioned under cover of the store canopy, and alongside the customer car parking.
A new ‘pedestrian walkway’ (above) and associated public realm improvements are proposed between the retained part of Northfield Shopping Centre and the proposed Lidl store to connect Victoria Common and Bristol Road South.
Birmingham City Council planning officers, who said during the meeting that extensive discussions had taken place between the authority and Lidl, had recommended it for approval.
Reasons for refusal
During discussions some councillors expressed concerns about it being the right development for that part of Northfield.
Coun David Barker said he felt the car park encroached on too much of Victoria Common at a time when people were being encouraged to walk more and be fit and healthy. And he said the supermarket was not making the most of the space and the number of jobs for that space seemed low, compared to other uses.
It was also highlighted that there were already four supermarkets within a 10-minute walk and the Lidl was not needed.
Coun Colin Green said: “Why are we knocking down a supermarket to build another supermarket?”
Speaking in favour, Coun Gareth Moore said he supported it – there had recently been a Lidl built in Erdington and it had been very successful.
When it was put to the vote, five councillors voted against and three in favour, meaning the application was turned down.
Lidl’s consultation
At the end of 2023, when the idea for the supermarket was first mooted, Lidl held a pop-up information session at Northfield Shopping Centre and a wide-ranging public consultation.
It said, from the responses received, 88 per cent of people said they were in favour of the proposals for the new Lidl and welcomed them.
At the time Lidl said respondents had recognised the important investment for Northfield Shopping Centre, improved choice that a new discount supermarket would bring and the 40 new jobs.
The next nearest Lidl supermarkets for people in the area are in Stirchley, Kings Heath and Halesowen (some five miles away).
