Aldi and Lidl given green light to build new stores
Lidl set to relocate while Aldi is to open a new store in the town
BUDGET supermarkets are to build new stores in the town after the borough council gave the green light to both plans.
Lidl, which already has a store on Hawley Road, is to relocate to the former HJ Hall factory site on Coventry Road.
Work on demolishing the factory was complete in December 2017.
And Aldi is to add to its portfolio by opening an extra store on land by Holliers Walk in the town centre.
It will keep its existing store on the A5 near Dodwells Roundabout open.
When the two new stores open, Hinckley will have six large superstores.
PLANS for a discount supermarket in the town centre have been approved by councillors.
Aldi is to build a new superstore on an area of scrubland on Holliers Walk which was previously home to a factory which was demolished many years ago.
The proposal is for a food store on the 1,804 sq m site with car parking for 111 vehicles including six accessible spaces and six parent and child spaces.
Vehicle access will be created from Holliers Walk as well as New Buildings.
There will also be four cycle hoops in front of the store.
It will create 20 full-time and 20 part-time jobs.
The proposal was approved by councillors on the Planning Committee of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council.
The site is bounded to the north by Holliers Walk, to the east by New Buildings, to the west by Baptist Walk and to the south by commercial properties.
The application stated the car parking spaces provided on site would have a shallow gradient with flush transitions between roadway and path to allow customers who walk with buggies, and people who use mobility scooters/wheelchairs, unhindered access into the store.
The plans for the wasteland were widely welcomed when they were lodged in late 2017.
The area has not been used for a number of years and is overgrown.
Steve Wegerif, director of Hinckley BID, said it was “another great asset and brand” to have in the town.
He added: “It will balance against The Crescent and bring more people back to the centre of town.
“Apart from anything else, it will take a scruffy piece of land and make it look very smart.
“Businesses in New Buildings have been very supportive of the proposals.”
Consultants from rival superstore Asda questioned the Aldi layout plans and transport assessment, saying the car park provision was inadequate and that the dual entrance points would create a rat-run and were unsuitable for large delivery trucks.
A further independent study was commissioned by Aldi which concluded that the development would have a marginal impact on any traffic issues and was unlikely to worsen road safety.
Aldi also held a consultation in 2017 and of all 118 responses 110 were for the scheme, with just two unsure and six opposed.