Locals say plans for a new Lidl supermarket and Wickes DIY store are ‘brilliant’. The plans will transform a former industrial site, on Nottingham Road, Long Eaton. The site has been derelict since 2014.
The plans were originally put forward in 2018 by Lidl and Clowes Developments however Erewash Borough Council refused them. After the plans were rejected, the major supermarket said 298 local residents had written to them saying they wanted the development to go ahead. The rejection was overturned on appeal in 2020.
Current works are being done on access to the site from Nottingham Road and local residents think the plans are ‘brilliant’. Amy Johnson, who lives near the site, told Nottinghamshire Live that it’s a positive for the town as it creates more employment opportunities.
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The 37-year-old said: “It’s a big site, a Wickes is good. It used to be a factory. I think it’s a brilliant idea. Anything to create more jobs and help people. I’m more than happy about it.”
The new supermarket would create 40 new full and part-time jobs and approximately 26 new full and part-time jobs at Wickes. Clowes has been working closely with the council's senior planning officer in a bid to make the amended proposals successful. Another local resident, Zoe Richards, who is 74 years old, said that it’s a pretty good idea.
“A Wickes here, that’s pretty good. I can see my son nipping in there. It makes a change. It's a pretty good idea, a Lidl and a Wickes.”
However, another resident Pete Saxby, 71, says there’s enough supermarkets in the town. Mr Saxby said: “Wickes was at Chilwell and we’ve got enough supermarkets as it is. There might as well be houses there.”
Marc Freeman, the development director at Clowes responsible for delivering the scheme, said: "We have received support from local residents who are excited to benefit from the proposed retail offering.
"It would regenerate a prominent site in Long Eaton that has been redundant for a number of years which will benefit the local community."
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