Lidl set for green light for two Belfast stores

Lidl appears set to get the go ahead for two major new Belfast stores in north and east Belfast.

The discounter is planning to build a new store on the Shore Road in north Belfast, following recent investments in new or replacement stores at High Street in the city centre, at Andersonstown Road and at Connswater Retail Park, as well as Holywood Exchange Retail Park and Castlereagh Road.

The proposal is being recommended for approval by planners at this week’s Belfast City Council planning committee, and Lidl also looks likely to get approval for a £8m new store and commercial units at the former Hughes Christensen site in east Belfast, the Belfast Telegraph has reported.

Meanwhile, the new Shore Road proposal would see it taking on an adjoining site which would give it “sufficient space to construct a replacement supermarket of the size required, along with adequate parking”.

Lidl says the cost of the new store will be around £4.3m and support around 200 jobs during its construction.

The company says it will support 35 jobs at the new store – 22 from the existing one and 13 new jobs.

Planning officials say “the design and layout of the development is considered acceptable, and adequately respects the existing context in terms of building locations and set-backs”.

“The landscaped areas will positively contribute to local townscape and assist in mitigating the visual impact of hard-surfacing of the site. Materials and detailing are also considered acceptable taking account of built form within the locality of the site.”