Tadley Lidl appeal gets under way
THE appeal process for the proposed Lidl store in Tadley has now opened.
The discount supermarket is appealing West Berkshire Council’s decision in July last year to refuse permission to build a store on the corner of the A340 and Silchester Road.
The application had been welcomed by the local community, with residents citing the need for a cheaper alternative to the Sainsbury’s store further down the A340 and the jobs that it would bring to the area.
However, the council’s district planning committee overturned the eastern area planning committee’s decision to approve the application, rejecting the scheme by a majority of nine to two on the grounds that it was being built on a greenfield site and could set a precedent for future development.
The district planning committee also agreed that the application went against the council’s planning framework as it was outside the settlement boundary and that the discount supermarket wasn’t ‘exceptional’ enough to deviate from this policy.
In January, Lidl confirmed it was appealing the decision, saying it “strongly believed that the local community of Tadley will benefit from a new Lidl store, with access to highquality, affordable food and new jobs being created for the area”.
And it was revealed on Thursday that the appeal process has now begun and will be decided through written representations rather than a hearing or an inquiry.
This means the planning inspector will take into account written evidence from Lidl, West Berkshire Council and anybody else who has an interest in the appeal, as well as material submitted to the council during the application process and relevant legislation and policies.
People wishing to comment can do so at https://acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk on appeal reference 3265942.
All representations must be received by the Planning Inspectorate by May 4.