Huge new planned Lidl store and warehouse on Walsall industrial site could create over 40 jobs

Applicants Lidl GB have applied for full planning permission to demolish an existing warehouse and build a new retail store off Green Lane, the A34 between Walsall and Bloxwich.

They also want outline permission to build a huge 39,000 square metre warehouse and distribution centre, including offices and car parking.

The firm lodged a hybrid application with Walsall Council last month, with full details of the proposed warehouse building set to come forward in a separate application in due course.

Access to the new 2,185 square metre store would be off Newfield Close, and would include a "high quality landscaping scheme", according to supporting documentation submitted with the application. Around 40 jobs would be created by the new retail store.

"The proposed new Lidl foodstore, will have a clean and contemporary design featuring a single height glazed entrance as well as a glazed elevation facing out onto the car park and Green Lane," it said.

"The development proposal for a new Lidl foodstore in itself represents a significant economic investment by Lidl and will facilitate the retention of existing jobs whilst increasing job opportunities as the foodstore will employ around 40 members of staff once opened. These job opportunities will principally be taken by local residents.

"Lidl has a policy of employing local people from all backgrounds to work in their stores. This allows for a short commute to work and for staff to potentially work at short notice."

The outline proportion of the scheme would see an existing warehouse demolished on the site and replaced with a new facility over a total area of around 8.3 hectares(20,000 acres), which the firm says will also create an unspecified number of new roles.

The site currently contains four existing warehouses which have been owned and operated by Lidl since 2008.

"The application proposes a new warehouse and distribution building, parking and service area, with associated access, parking, and landscaping to the north of Newfield Close, following the demolition of the existing buildings on site. Overall, there will an increase in the total amount of warehouse and distribution floorspace due to a more space-efficient layout to meet modern operational requirements,"  it said.

"The food-store part of the site only forms a small area of the total site and whilst not a traditional employment use, the proposed food-store will generate employment, and is a use which is complementary to the surrounding uses and would not adversely affect the continued use of employment uses in the remainder of the site and in the surrounding area. 

"A number of additional jobs will be created through the proposed warehouse and distribution floorspace."

Lidl commenced trading in the UK in November 1994 and now operates over 960 stores across the country. The company is now the sixth largest convenience retailer in Great Britain, with 8.1% of the market share.

Walsall Council are expected to make a decision on the plans by March.