Ken Parke Planning Consultants (KPPC) have obtained full planning permission for a new Lidl supermarket and drive-through coffee shop in an out of town and out of district location in Poole.
The proposal for the development on a site in Ringwood Road was given the green light by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council.
It will replace a former petrol station now used for car sales and land used for customer and staff parking on a site owned and operated by Charles Trent Car Recycling Business.
Growth of the business, modernisation and planning permission for a new large car recycling plant on the site has resulted in significant operational efficiencies and allowed for reconfiguration – including space for the new Lidl development.
KPPC also obtained the planning permission for the car recycling plant, which is the first of its kind in the UK.
Successfully secured the planning permission included overcoming multiple policy considerations.
The front of the site was allocated in the Local Plan for housing, the rear of the site as employment land and retail development outside of the town centre is only permissible if certain criteria are fulfilled.
The careful evidence-based approach demonstrated the site was not appropriate for housing, while the retail unit would provide greater employment and economic benefit without impacting on retail elsewhere.
The discount retail store would also provide community benefit to the extensive surrounding residential area.
Ken Parke, chief executive of Bournemouth-based KPPC, said: “There was considerable support within the community for this scheme.
“Positive engagement with the council through the application process was required to demonstrate the benefits of the site, lack of adverse impact with benefits outweighing any tension with policy and agreement on access and highways matters.
“It was clearly shown that the site is unsuitable for residential development and would not provide any viable or meaningful housing,
“A retail assessment, as part of a comprehensive package of supporting reports, demonstrated that the scheme satisfies the sequential test for alternative suitable sites and will not significantly adversely impact any other local area or the town centre.
“We welcome the council’s decision to approve a scheme in a highly accessible, sustainable and brownfield location to provide a modern, new food store that is wanted and needed by the local community.”
The planning application drew 115 representations in support and 10 in objections when placed for consultation by the council.
A public consultation held by Lidl showed that 85.4% of respondents (1,073 people) were in favour while 11.3% (142 people) were against and 3.3% (42 people) were undecided.
The proposals are expected to provide employment for about 40 full and part time staff in the Lidl store and about 15 full and part time within the coffee shop.
The new store will include 100 car parking spaces to the front of the site, electric vehicle charging stations and bicycle spaces. There will also be highways improvements and landscaping.
Highway improvements included closing two of the site’s three access points, providing a right turn dedicated lane and a design which incorporates the wider Ringwood Road enhancement scheme for public transport, pedestrians and cyclists.
The drive-through, at the front of the site, it is understood will be operated by Costa Coffee.
Project partners were Abbas Ecology; Analytical Construction Services (ACS) Carney Sweeney; Charles Trent Property Ltd; Clarke Saunders Acoustics; Godsell Arnold Partnership; Lidl Great Britian Ltd: KPPC; Mayer Brown; Smalley, Marsey, Rispin (SMR) Architects; RPS Group Ltd.
(Plans/Pictures: Lidl GB Ltd and SMR Architects)