Plans for a new Lidl supermarket on the site of a former nursing home in Belle Vale have been approved despite opposition from rival chains.
Morrisons and Aldi had hoped to persuade Liverpool Council’s planning committee to think again after officers recommended a new store go ahead on Childwall Valley Road. Their efforts fell short as councillors backed proposals unanimously at Liverpool Town Hall.
A meeting was told that Lidl would build the new store on land previously occupied by a pub, bookmakers and Childwall Brook Nursing Home. Chris Fernandez, on behalf of the German chain, said the company was excited to bring a new venture to what he described as a “derelict brownfield site".
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Mr Fernandez added that the supermarket would bring 30 new jobs to the area and had been backed by the majority of residents. The firm would seek to start work as soon as possible, subject to planning being approved and would bring about “physical, social and economic benefit.”
Morrisons had submitted concerns as part of the planning application that detailed how the proposed store would impact residential amenity and will add retail impact issues. It was claimed that the proposed £3.39m to be invested by Lidl would hit its turnover by almost 20%.
The report added that the Morrisons store is considered to be an integral part of Belle Vale district centre and the impact on it as an anchor store could have wider impacts for the entire centre. Lidl has also targeted low-cost rival Aldi and expects to take around a third of its business from a neighbouring store.
Representations were made from residents Father Jonathan Brown and Shirley Davies, who said while they were in support of the proposal on the whole, concerns remained around traffic management on Childwall Valley Road and Chelwood Avenue. Cllr Ruth Bennett echoed those comments and said while the site was currently an eyesore, the area had issues with speeding and the junction was a concern.
The opening hours of the Lidl store would be 7am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and six hours within the range of 10am to 6pm on Sundays. The proposals were signed off by councillors without a vote.
