Supermarket plans would be ‘ideal move’

PROPOSALS for new Lidl and Home Bargains stores on land close to Junction 27 retail park have emerged, with one local councillor hailing the plans as “an ideal move”.

The supermarket giant is proposing to build its new food store, alongside a Home Bargains store and accompanying garden centre, on currently unused land off Bankwood Way in Birstall.

The brownfield site, adjacent to the Showcase Cinema, has sat derelict since the business units which occupied the land were demolished after failing to attract long-term occupiers.

But that could now be set to change after Lidl announced development proposals which it says would deliver a “high-quality retail scheme.”

The proposals include a brand-new Lidl store and separate Home Bargains store with an associated garden centre.

Access to both units would be available via the existing entrance off Bankwood Way as well as via a new access off Woodhead Road, which would be created as part of the plans.

In an outline of the proposals, Lidl have revealed that 186 car parking spaces, including ten accessible spaces and eight parent and child bays, would be created as part of the development.

There would also be two electric vehicle charging spaces and a stepped and ramped footpath link from Woodhead Road.

And 110 full and part time jobs would be created across both stores.

Kirklees Council granted outline planning permission for four retail units on the land muted for the scheme earlier this year.

Reacting to the proposals, Cllr Mark Thompson (Con, Birstall & Birkenshaw) said he would welcome the scheme providing traffic management was considered.

“It’s a great idea as long as they look at the potential congestion on the main road,” he said.

“It’s a problem at the moment so to load that with a popular store like a Lidl then obviously something needs to be thought through as far as potential traffic is concerned.”

Cllr Thompson added he was optimistic that the retail giants would attract more visitors to the borough.

“I think it’s an ideal move to allow people to come into the borough from other areas such as Bradford and the south of Leeds,” he said.

“It’s an opportunity to lighten that side of Junction 27 that has been an eyesore for a while now.

“Other than the potential traffic, I can’t see any other negatives.”

Lidl is currently welcoming feedback on its proposals as it prepares to submit official plans to Kirklees Council in late January, 2021.

To have your say and to view the proposals in full, visit lidl-birstall.com/have-your-say.