Lidl looking to build new town's first supermarket

Supermarket chain Lidl is consulting on plans to open the first food store in the new town of Northstowe.

The company is proposing to develop land at Station Road, in the north of the Cambridgeshire town, on the former site of Pentair Hypro EU.

It would cover have 115 car parking spaces and create about 40 jobs.

Lidl said it was now preparing a planning application and, if successful, would then provide more details on a timescale.

The first residents of Northstowe moved in in 2017.

By May this year, more than 1,600 new homes were occupied. When the town is finished, there will be about 11,000 homes.

If planning permission is given, Lidl will be the first supermarket in the town.

According to a website set up by the supermarket, the site will keep as many existing trees as possible, and solar panels will provide about 25% of the store's energy.

Andrew Hodgkinson, regional head of property at Lidl GB, is encouraging as many residents as possible to share their views.

He said the store would serve the "growing Northstowe community and the surrounding villages" and "increase local shopping choice in a convenient location, create new jobs and regenerate a currently vacant brownfield site".

Residents have in the past complained about a lack of facilities in the town.

Earlier this year, developers announced plans for a "meanwhile hub", which would include a temporary town centre.

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