Town centre may lose £25m to Offerton store
ASUPERMARKET war has broken out over a large new store that could suck £25 million in trade from Stockport centre.
Lidl will open a 2,579sq m outlet on the site of a former dyeworks off Hemshaw Lane, Offerton.
The council’s central area committee granted the company’s planning application and it is expected work will start next month.
But the Co-op, which has several outlets nearby, submitted an objection complaining the planning application has ‘inconsistencies’ and Lidl’s assessment of how other retailers will be affected is ‘flawed’.
And a council report predicts Lidl opening will see the town centre anchor stores of Asda and Sainsbury’s lose substantial business - with the latter possibly closing.
The report also predicts that by 2020 the new store will be responsible for diverting £25.4m of trade from the town centre, 3.5 per cent of its current total.
Planning officer Chris Smyton told the meeting that any rejection of Lidl’s application on grounds of impact on other retailers could be overturned on appeal.
He said: “It (the application) is finely balanced but it has tipped in the applicant’s favour.”
But he conceded: “Given the vulnerability of Stockport this is a concern.”
Paul Mason, from Lidl, said the development will bring an empty brownfield site back to life and bring highway improvements to the Hempshaw Lane-Christie Street junction.
He added: “The investment would create 40 jobs at a range of levels that will be staffed by local residents.
“Considerable work has taken place to address issues raised.”
Six letters of objection have been sent in against Lidl with concerns including road safety at an already busy junction, noise issues and the development being out of character for the area.
A total of 175 letters of support have been submitted - although 172 were generic and part of a campaign by Your Shout that was commissioned by Lidl.
Each had the name of a different resident, all saying they would ‘welcome the opportunity to shop here’.
Resident and business owner Doug Gill, who campaigned against Lidl, said: “If it wasn’t so serious it would be a joke.
“I wouldn’t have thought they would stoop so low.