Has Lidl shelved plans for a new store in Tweedbank?
Work is well underway on the first phase of the Borders Gateway development...
Last updated 31st Mar 2023
Uncertainty surrounds plans to construct a Lidl store in Tweedbank after the discount retailer announced it's scaling back on new developments.
The supermarket giant was granted planning permission to build on the Borders Gateway site in March last year.
But, in February this year, it stated it was "slowing on store openings", to focus on "investing heavily" in its warehouse capacity.
Local councillor David Parker told us: "Lidl is undoubtedly, as an organisation, going through some challenges at the moment. They have, nationally, announced they are changing their store development programme.
"They have not confirmed what they're doing with Tweedbank."
But he added: "What I do know is that on a number of other sites, where they have confirmed, they are delaying those sites. And I am hopeful that's what they're doing here."
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Work has started on the first phase of the development, which includes a Costa Coffee Drive-thru and MFG Petrol Filling Station.
We contacted Lidl for an update on March 22nd, but have yet to hear back.
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Councillor Parker added: "I'm as much in the dark as anybody else - I've been making the same enquiries to Lidl and the developer, and as yet there's no confirmation. So I suspect discussions are probably ongoing as we speak."
Meanwhile, Scottish Borders Council's agreed to push ahead with plans to extend Tweedbank - with proposals for up to 400 new homes and a care village on the neighbouring Lowood Estate; but revealed no final decisions have been made on the project, with all options open.
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