Planning go-ahead for £20m Morrisons store in Louth
MORRISONS has been given approval to build a new £20-million store in Louth creating 50 extra jobs. There will be 37 per cent more retail space in the new large store, which will have access from Eastgate and a new entrance from Monks Dyke Road.
East Lindsey District Council planners approved the application and took over an hour to assess the proposals along with hearing from neighbours objecting to the plans. They were concerned about the visual impact and the noise levels, particularly from delivery vehicles at the large new store. Proposing approval, Councillor Neil Jones said: “This will have a big economic advantage to Louth. I would support the recommendation of planning officers to approve it.” The new Morrisons store, at 3,636 square metres, which is nearly 40,000 square feet, will take around 18 months to complete and is due to open late next year. The current store has around 85 staff at present and there will be 50 additional jobs created.
The existing supermarket will remain open to continue serving the community until the new store, with new café and toilets, is built. There will be 195 parking spaces, four with electric vehicle charging points. Chris Creighton, planning consultant for Morrisons, said: “Morrisons has an anchor role in the town centre. The current store is cramped. “The new one will be bright, modern and energy efficient and provide a £20-million investment in Louth at t a time when town centres are under r pressure.”
The new entrance from Monks s Dyke Road will make it more acces- sible and distribute traffic better r through the town centre, the con- sultant said.
Louth Town Council asked for the e railings at the front of the new store e to be in keeping with the iron rail- ings at the front of Louth Alms- houses and around the town’s War r Memorial. Construction work on the new w store is expected to start later this summer, with demolition of the old store later next year.