Asda ‘click and collect’ lockers approved

Plans for ‘click and collect’ lockers at Washington’s Asda store have been given the green light by planning bosses.

Earlier in 2020, the supermarket giant lodged a planning application with Sunderland City Council for its store at The Galleries.

This included self-service lockers in the western car park, an extended delivery area and an extension to the entrance canopy at the front of the store to provide shelter for queuing customers.

The click and collect lockers will allow customers to pick up online grocery orders – with a bank of 20 units housed in a structure coated in metal cladding and antivandal paint.

Customers using the service would book a time slot for collection and bring along an order confirmation, payment card or ID to access goods.

Following consultation, planning chiefs approved the proposals on Tuesday.

A council decision report reads: “The lockers are to be located on an area currently marked as car parking spaces [and] the development will result in a loss of 13 car parking spaces.

“However, the council’s transportation development team has been consulted and has confirmed no objection to the proposed positioning of the lockers or to the canopies proposed.”

According to a statement on Asda’s website, the lockers are temperature-controlled with food kept fresh, chilled or frozen until collection.

Dedicated parking spaces will also be provided to serve the grocery collection service at the Washington store.

Under planning conditions, works must be brought forward in the next three years.