Lidl Market Weighton: New budget supermarket given approval by councillors despite objection by Tesco

Councillors have approved plans for a new Lidl in Market Weighton despite an objection from rival supermarket chain Tesco.

East Riding Council’s Planning Committee unanimously approved plans for the Lidl, in York Road, Market Weighton, along with a new spine road and other facilities. Lidl’s agent Alice Routledge told the committee the store could open in summer 2024 and came as part of a £1.3bn investment in the company’s UK operation.

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But councillors heard Tesco objected claiming tests gauging its impact underestimated its effects on local trade and that it would be too far from the town centre and transport links. Plans for the store would see it built to the north west of the town between two existing industrial developments. The site covers an area of around 1,900sqm, with the store itself covering about 1,200sqm. The development is set to include 140 parking spaces and councillors heard it could create the equivalent of up to 40 full time jobs.

Ms Routledge told the committee the Market Weighton store would follow the opening of a store in Bridlington last summer and investment into the company’s Driffield site.

How the Lidl in Market Weighton will lookHow the Lidl in Market Weighton will look
How the Lidl in Market Weighton will look

The agent said: “We also have a store in Beverley that’s been well received since it opened. This could satisfy the need for more choice in Market Weighton, this would significantly enhance consumer choice in the town and would reduce the need for people to travel elsewhere. Our surveys of local people show that people feel there is a need for more food stores in Market Weighton. It would be accessible by sustainable transport routes.”

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But Tesco claimed in its objections Lidl did not consider smaller, alternative sites to the one in York Road and its store would draw trade from the town centre. The company added the fact that 140 parking spaces were planned showed it was in an unsustainable location.

Tesco’s objections claimed the amount of turnover drawn from its existing Market Weighton store, less than 1km away, would be greater than the 45 per cent forecast in sequential tests. The company also claimed there was only one hourly and one daily bus service that could get people without a car to and from the proposed Lidl. Councillors heard the same hourly bus service also served the Tesco so officers felt that point did not factor into their decision to recommend approval.

The committee also heard there were no objections from the council, including its highways team, or other consultees like Market Weighton Town Council. Committee member and Wolds Weighton Coun David Rudd said the plans were popular among locals, adding it would give them more choices for places to shop.

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The ward member said: “There’s been a need for another store in Market Weighton for some time. Tesco’s objections have been fully answered by our officers. I’m a Tesco shopper myself and I have been ever since it came to Market Weighton, this is nothing against Tesco. But this gives people more choice and opportunities.”

Committee chair Coun Leo Hammond, also of Wolds Weighton, said the store would be built on land allocated for different business uses but it would still bring jobs.

The chair said: “The benefits absolutely outweigh any issues, this is going to create 40 jobs along with the social and economic benefits it will bring.”

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