Planning saga over as Lidl gets go-ahead for new store
But idea for moorland cross is knocked back
LITTLEBOROUGH is to get a new Lidl supermarket.
The German budget retailer has been given planning permission to open a store on Stockton Street.
It brings to an end to a long-running supermarket planning saga on the site.
Lidl was the third supermarket chain to attempt to open a store on the land, the former site of Carlisle Interconnect Technologies off Church Street.
In 2014 Tesco was granted planning permission to open, but pulled out a few months later deciding a large supermarket in the area was “no longer appropriate”.
It came after a campaign against the plans dubbed ‘Keep Littleborough Local’ was launched.
The campaign included a 1,300-signature petition, which was presented to councillors on the planning committee.
The following year Aldi were granted planning permission for a store on the site, but didn’t go ahead with the development.
About 40 new jobs will be created at the store.
Meanwhile church leaders’ plans to erect a giant cross on moorland as part of a major project to help bring their parishes together have been knocked back.
Planning permission for 23ft tall timber, steel and stone sculpture on Rough Lea Farm off Edenfield Road near Norden was refused by the Planning and Licensing Committee.
It was the brainchild of churches in Norden, Bamford and Ashworth and if approved would have been visible for miles around.