Shopping Centre objects to Lidl
Supermarket giant plan store for Atholl House site
The owners of East Kilbride Shopping Centre have objected to plans for a new Lidl store in the grounds of Atholl House.
Proposals were put forward by the supermarket giant in July as bulldozers moved in to rip down the former headquarters of East Kilbride Development Corporation.
However, Orion – who run EK East Kilbride – have submitted a letter to South Lanarkshire Council with concerns about the proposal.
Real estate adviser CBRE, acting on behalf of Orion, note that “the planning history indicates that this site is not suitable for retail development and highlights that there are sequentially preferable sites in the town centre”.
They also highlight that previous applications for large retail sites had been knocked back by the council.
And they point to rental levels which have suffered a “catastrophic” fall over the past decade, even more “temporary occupation” lets and how another store could hit the centre.
The letter also raises concerns over housing growth in East Kilbride which “has not materialised affecting predictions of population growth”.
However, Hargest Planning, writing in response to Orion and on behalf of Lidl, say “all strategic centres within the Glasgow-region are experiencing similar competitive pressures – both from other major strategic centres and smaller scale retail developments in retail parks and elsewhere.”
The potential problems of accommodating the proposed Lidl in the Churchill Avenue site adjacent to Sainsbury’s have sparked concerns from Orion, including worries over parking problems.
Town centre chiefs also note that the former BHS unit “is a significant vacancy that could provide for the requirements for this store”.
However, Hargest Planning respond by writing: “The first point to note regarding this unit is that it is not being marketed as potentially available by the agents acting for the owners of the centre.”
A Lidl spokesperson said: “Lidl’s consultant, Hargest Planning, have provided a comprehensive response to the objection raised by the shopping centre and remain positive that our proposal would be a great benefit to the town of East Kilbride.”
Lidl have previously said that their state-of-the-art development, if granted permission to build, would be a multi-million pound investment in the town and bring 40 new jobs.
Richard Low from Orion said: “We have offered Lidl prominent space within the shopping centre in the past, with its own dedicated and free car parking and servicing and we don’t believe its current application is in the best interests of the town.
“Our full objections and justifications to the application have been made to South Lanarkshire Council in line with its planning process and are publicly available.”
The council are accepting representations up to a week before the application goes before a meeting of the planning committee.