Lidl 'pleased' as Hunton Bridge plans clear final hurdle

Having first been submitted in September 2022, the brand’s plans for a 457-square-metre branch (around the size of a hockey rink) at the World of Water site in Hunton Bridge achieved formal approval last week.

The process, which saw the decision deferred twice before being made, finally concluded with the completed Section 106 agreement on conditions being added to the planning portal and can now get underway.

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A spokesperson for the German company said: “At Lidl, we are committed to providing the community with access to high quality, affordable produce and helping to improve choice in the area, so that shoppers can get the best value.

“We’re therefore pleased that progress is being made and look forward to updating the community on next steps in due course.”

Pushed for a timeframe on when work will begin and when the first customers will be able to visit, they remained tight-lipped - stating that Lidl does not have any definitive timeline it can share.

Lidl sign. (Image: PA)

Earlier this month, it was confirmed that the site’s current occupier, World of Water, will shut on September 30. A closing down sale at the location started on Monday (August 26), including a 20 per cent off everything offer and 50 per cent off select items.

“The staff would like to thank all our customers past and present for their support since we first opened the doors way back in 2003,” the store manager said.

The site from above. (Image: Google Maps)

World of Water’s building is set to be demolished to make way for the supermarket.

According to Lidl’s planning documents, “the proposed scheme provides the opportunity to improve a site which is in poor, unkept condition, both in terms of the existing building and its surroundings”.

They added: “This will be achieved though replacing the current structure with a modern, sustainable construction and improvements to the parking and landscaping.”

The completed store is set to offer a 98-space car park for staff and customers. Solar panels will be installed on the flat roof and woodland planting will be installed to screen the single-storey store from the road.