The controversial Lidl plan has been set for approval despite concerns about traffic and trade in the town centre

Councilors are set to approve a new Lidl store in Leicestershire despite fears it will “kill” the nearby town centre. Lidl wants to build a supermarket on the site of the vacant Ashfield House offices in Ashby’s Resolution Road – a site which would be a short distance from the town’s Tesco, Aldi and M&S stores.

Lidl Rapleys agents have maintained throughout the planning process that the site is the only “viable” location for the store and will create 40 new jobs. However, fears over potential “traffic gridlock” in the area and the loss of Ashfield House have been raised by residents, with Tesco labeling the plan “primarily unsuitable” for Ashby.

The store would take the place of the former offices, which were due to be demolished after Lidl and Rapleys said there was a “lack of demand” to keep them. Officials at North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC) previously disputed that claim but backtracked earlier this year, finding the loss of Ashfield House was “regrettable” but ultimately “reasonable”.

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As well as a new “clean and contemporary” supermarket, the site would have 101 parking spaces as well as cycle spaces. Concerns have been raised about the impact of additional traffic on the Resolution Road roundabout and adjacent Nottingham Road, with several fearing increased congestion and congestion in Ashby. However, in its report ahead of a decision, the NWLDC said both the County Highways Authority and National Highways had “no objections” to the plan. He said they both concluded the Lidl store would not “adversely affect” the motorway network.

Some residents feared the new supermarket could “kill” trade in Ashby town centre, but this was dismissed by retail consultants for Lidl, who said the town would continue to “trade viable”. External consultants for the NWLDC agreed, saying that increased competition was not a valid planning consideration and that Ashby town center would not be “adversely impacted” on both its “vitality” and “viability”.

A report ahead of next week’s decision said Lidl’s proposal was judged on its “own merits” as there was no plan to keep Ashfield House as offices. The NWLDC also said it believed the supermarket would be “in keeping” with the character of the area and would not impact on nearby neighbours.

The NWLDC’s planning committee looks set to approve the plan, subject to section 106 conditions, after the authority found Lidl would bring economic and social benefits to Ashby. Section 106 agreements set out what contributions a developer will make to a local area to support its plan, such as paying for a new school alongside a large housing development.

A final decision on Lidl’s plan will be made by officials next Tuesday (June 4).

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