New larger Bognor Regis Lidl supermarket approved

A new larger Lidl store for Bognor Regis has been given the thumbs up.
Lidl is set to relocate in Bognor RegisLidl is set to relocate in Bognor Regis
Lidl is set to relocate in Bognor Regis

The supermarket will be built at Oldlands Farm in North Bersted next to the new Rolls-Royce facility south of the relief road and east of the A29.

Lidl would relocate from its current home across the road at the Peel Centre in Rowan Way.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Arun District Council planning officers have given the thumbs up to an application for the new store.

Store's new designsStore's new designs
Store's new designs

According to the developer there is ‘clear support for the relocation and retention of the Lidl store at Oldlands Farm, with the provision of a purpose-built retail unit’.

The new supermarket with have 1,4010 square metres of sales area and include 149 parking spaces.

It would employ up to 40 full time equivalent staff, including existing employees.

Solar panels would be installed on the store’s roof.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Bersted Parish Council has not objected, but has called for a path for cyclists and pedestrians to reach the site and a suitable link is set to be secured by Arun through a planning condition.

The store would be located on the south-west edge of the site with parking to the north west.

A separate delivery vehicle access is proposed further along the existing estate road.

Officers felt effort had been made to ensure the store respects its surrounding land uses and road network ‘whilst providing a contemporary design which attracts custom’.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Their report said: “The proposed development of the site would comprise capital investment into a strategic site which is an employment allocation in the Local Plan and a fundamental part of the Enterprise Bognor Regis (EBR) initiative. The development would generate £1.9m per annum in wages for local people.”

Officers concluded: “On balance, retail development is considered to be necessary and acceptable on the site as the proposal has met the sequential test and the retail impact has been found to be acceptable on Bognor Regis town centre.”

Lidl will not be the only discount retailer to build a new store on the outskirts of Bognor Regis, as Aldi is planning to build a new supermarket on the Salt Box site nearby.

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

Thank you for reading this story on our website.

But I also have an urgent plea to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality local news on this free-to-read site and in print, please purchase a copy of our newspaper as well. With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on our town centres and many of our valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you buying a copy.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Our journalists are highly trained by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards anywhere in the world. Our content is universally trusted - as all independent research proves.

As Baroness Barran said in a House of Lords debate this week on the importance of journalists: “Not only are they a trusted source of facts, but they will have a role to play in rallying communities and getting the message across about how we can keep ourselves and our families safe, and protect our NHS. Undoubtedly, they have a critical role.”

But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis. In return we will continue to forensically cover the local news - not only the impact of the virus but all the positive and uplifting news happening in these dark days.

In addition, please write to your MP urging the Government to provide some additional financial support for local newspapers and their websites like this one and ensuring that supermarkets continue to stock them. I cannot stress enough how important such an intervention would be.

We thank all our readers and advertisers for their understanding and support - and we wish YOU all the best in the coming weeks. Keep safe, and follow the Government advice. Thank you.