Lidl supermarket plan to be decided for Royal Wootton Bassett
The German chain has made a controversial planning application
Members of Wiltshire Council’s northern area planning committee will discuss and decide a controversial application to build a supermarket on the edge of Royal Wootton Bassett.
German discount store giant Lidl is looking to build a store in the town, on land at Marsh Farm north of Malmesbury Road but the Town Council has objected to the plan.
The application by the retailer comes after a plan was put forward in 2014 for a care home and a Tesco supermarket on the site.
After Tesco withdrew Lidle became interested.
A plan for a care home and store was refused in 2017, and the care home operator put in a separate proposal which was approved, and work has begun.
Lidl has now put in its own application for the part of the site in initially earmarked for a supermarket. As well as the store and its car park the plans involve a new park for the use of the community.
Lidl said: “The site is ideally located for residents with close access to bus stops and is within walking distance to central Royal Wootton Bassett. The new Lidl store would be accessed from Malmesbury Road.
“The site is currently a private field which is inaccessible to the community. The proposed woodland and open space would open up the site for the whole community to enjoy.”
It also said the store would bring 30 new jobs to the town.
'Difficult to access and of little merit'
The application has been called into the committee by one of Royal Wootton Bassett’s three council members, Councillor Steve Bucknell.
The report summarises his concerns: “The site is close to a relatively new Aldi store, at the far northern end of the town. Much of the recent development of Royal Wootton Bassett has been to the South and East of the town.
“This proposal could have an increased impact on the vitality of the town centre whilst not benefitting residents by delivering a more accessible food store than that which has already been developed (Aldi). The adverse impact on the town centre is not, therefore, offset by satisfying a need for additional retail space.
“The proposal offers additional parkland. However, this is a small park, difficult to access and of little merit.”
'The Parish Council feels that this is deceptive planning'
Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council and Lydiard Tregoze Parish Council also had significant concerns.
The Town Council is worried about traffic and road safety, as well as the impact of the second supermarket in the area might have on the town centre.
The parish council said of the promised park: “The ‘public open space’ is not in ownership of Lidl or a public/community organisation but is instead still owned by the developers to do with as they please. The Parish Council feels that this is deceptive planning and misleading to the public.
The meeting starts at 2pm at Council Offices, Monkton Park, Chippenham on Wednesday 13 September.
Members of the public are entitled to attend.