Plans submitted for new town's first supermarket

Lidl has submitted a planning application for what will be the first store at a new Cambridgeshire town.

The budget supermarket chain wants to open on Station Road on the northern edge of Northstowe, which is a new development home to an estimate of nearly 5,000 people.

Lidl said that 96% of about 2,600 people who took part in its online survey about the plans were in favour.

The planning application will be considered by South Cambridgeshire District Council and a decision is expected by 15 June.

The new store would be 1,529 sqm, would have 118 car parking spaces and 40 covered car parking spaces.

The first residents of Northstowe arrived in 2017. According to the town council, about 1,700 homes are occupied and the estimated population is more than 4,700 people. However, there has been criticism that the town has lacked many basic facilities like shops and a GP surgery.

The town is expected to eventually have 11,000 homes and about 26,000 residents.

Andrew Hodgkinson, regional head of property at Lidl GB, said: "We've seen strong support throughout our public consultation and sincerely thank everyone who shared their feedback."

The supermarket says the store is expected to provide about 40 jobs.

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