A discount supermarket chain withdrew a planning application to build a new store in Perth after a council department questioned the need for it, the PA has learned.
Lidl decided to withdraw its application to form a foodstore on empty farmland next to McDiarmid Park on Crieff Road late last year after receiving what it termed as “initial feedback” from Perth and Kinross Council about the proposal.
It was unclear what feedback the German retailer had received from the local authority at that time as it had not published any of the comments its internal departments had made on the proposal by the time it was dropped.
This contrasted with the council’s handling of a different but similar application from Aldi to form a supermarket in Milnathort for which it had at that time published all comments made on it by internal consultees such as its environmental health and development plan teams.
PKC has now retrospectively published the comments its internal departments made on the Lidl application which show its development plan team raised several concerns about the proposal.
The department said figures put forward by Lidl in a retail impact assessment (RIA) suggesting the city needs another supermarket were “significantly different” to figures worked out six years ago.
The team also noted the proximity of a number of other large foodstores in the local area including several said to offer “discount” priced goods and questioned the need to provide another one.
They also pointed to the fact the site is currently allocated for housing in the council’s latest approved local development plan.
Their comments on Lidl’s proposal said: “The Perth and Kinross Town Centre and Retail Study 2016 indicates spare capacity within the Perth Area catchment of between 27-30 million by 2026.
“The applicant’s RIA covers a much smaller catchment of a seven minute drive time catchment within Perth, which includes around a half to two thirds of the city, and within this area it indicates there is a spare capacity of over 60 million by 2027.
“The applicant’s RIA identifies over double the capacity, within a much smaller catchment area.
“The Perth and Kinross Town Centre and Retail Study 2016 was an independent study and the council trusts its methodology and findings.
“I do not agree with the applicant’s findings with regard to spare capacity, as they are so significantly different.”
The team’s comments went on: “There is [a] large Tesco superstore on Crieff Road, the Tulloch Square Co-operative, and in terms of discount provision a Farmfoods on Crieff Road.
“When considering their seven minute drive range catchment, also available is a Marks and Spencer and Aldi’s at Inveralmond, the Asda on Dunkeld Road, the Morrisons on Caledonian Road and the Food Warehouse at St Catherine’s.
“There is no locational requirement for an additional foodstore in this area, or need for discount provision, as it is already very well served, particularly within this part of the Perth Area Catchment.”
And the team concluded: “This site is identified as a housing site within the Perth and Kinross Local Development Plan 2, so this retail proposal is contrary to the development plan.
“In policy terms the principle should also be considered with reference to Policy 13 Retail and Commercial Leisure, but it is also contrary to this policy as it is not a sequentially preferable site or an appropriate
site for improving distribution or accessibility, and there is no significant qualitative
or quantitative need for the store.”
Asked why internal consultees’ comments had not been published timeously under the Lidl’s planning application compared to those published under Aldi’s application a PKC spokesperson told the PA: “All responses from consultees regarding the Lidl application are now available to view on our online planning portal.
“If a consultee has made no comment about an application this will be reflected on the portal.”
