Supermarket chain Lidl has been given permission from councillors to proceed with plans for a new store in Wishaw.
The company had applied for approval for a new store, with a total floor space of almost 2000sq m, along with parking spaces, two electric vehicle charging stations and bicycle storage, with access coming from Heathery via a new roundabout.
North Lanarkshire Council’s planning department had recommended granting the application subject to various conditions as although contrary to zoning designations in the local plan it was considered to be an “acceptable alternative use” of the site.
The council received a total of three objections in relation to these plans but all arrived outwith the statutory timescales and were dismissed.
It was however noted that a number of revisions had been made to the original proposals, in line with recommendations made in a transportation assessment, and these changes also happened to cover many points raised in the objections.
It was therefore deemed that the plans contained “no unacceptable impacts for road and pedestrian safety”.
This new store will replace Lidl’s existing town centre location.
The plans will also see new jobs created in addition to the current employees.
In a report, council planners state: “In respect to retail impact and development strategy, the adopted local plan allows the opportunity to consider out-of-centre retail development, where impacts would remain within acceptable levels and an appropriate approach is used in terms of site selection.
“There isn’t a specific requirement for additional retail flood space within this area.
“However, it has been adequately demonstrated that the relocated and expanded Lidl store can be supported with only limited impacts on the town centre and wider network of retail centres.
“Furthermore, the council has a vision for Wishaw town centre which would ultimately be to replace the existing site with residential development.
“The applicant’s Retail Impact Assessment considers that of the total turnover of the proposed store (£9.99m at 2027).
“This is predicted to divert £6.34m of trade from Wishaw town centre at 2027, which represents a 4.58 per cent impact.
“This means turnover of the town centre is projected to fall from £138.61m to £132.27m.
“In terms of understanding impact, what this means is that while the town centre would experience a predicted loss of trade, this would largely be focused on competing national multiple retailers who are more likely to be able to absorb impacts from increasing competition.
“The potential impact on other independent town centre units is not considered likely to be significant, particularly as this is a relocation and fairly modest expansion of their current operation in Wishaw town centre.”
*Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here .
And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Why not head to our page and give us a like and share.
