Plans for new Lidl in Norwich refused
There were fears it would force a long-running department store to close
Plans for a new Lidl have been refused amid fears it would force a long-running Norfolk department store to close.
Norwich City Council threw out the proposals for the new supermarket Barnard Road, Bowthorpe, at the site currently used by Namco Funscape bowling alley.
The company hoped to demolish the existing building to make way for a new branch but the plans were met with backlash from retailers including Aldi, Waitrose and Roys of Bowthorpe.
Councillors voted to block the application at a meeting amid concerns about the impact of the development on Roys, the well-known Norfolk brand founded 130 years ago.
The company objected to the application and said the impact of the supermarket on its trading had been “significantly underestimated”.
While council officials argued the development would only result in a “small reduction” in the number of customers visiting Roys, the possibility of the store closing was a key concern among councillors.
Mike Sands, a Labour councillor for Bowthorpe, said: “I haven’t seen anything to suggest that this supermarket is something the local community either wants or needs.
“There are so many other shops in the area – this could cause Roys to close if it becomes unviable.”
Sue Sands, a Labour councillor for Bowthorpe, said: “The bowling alley is an important community facility and I don’t want to see it replaced with another supermarket from a global conglomerate.
“There is particularly no need when we have shops in the area like Roys, Norfolk’s own brand.”
Councillors also stressed the importance of the bowling alley due to it being accessible for disabled people, and raised concerns about the loss of trees on the site and it being difficult to access on bike or foot.
The plans were refused by the committee on Thursday.