Lidl has announced plans to build a new superstore in Herefordshire, creating a large number of jobs in Ross-on-Wye if plans are approved.
The application site comprises the existing Wolf Business Park located on the eastern edge of Ross on Wye. It currently includes a range of single and two storey buildings with a total site area of 0.9 ha in size.
The site is bounded to the south by Haigh Industrial Estate, to the west by Alton Road with residential development beyond, to the east by a residential property and garden, and to the north west by the A40 Gloucester Road.
The proposed development will seek Full Planning Permission for the demolition of two of the three existing buildings and the erection of a new Lidl foodstore with associated car parking, servicing and landscaping to the north of the site along with associated works and new access bell mouth to serve the employment land retained to the south.
The new foodstore will extend to 1,987 sq. m gross internal area with net sales of 1,137 sq. m,103 car parking spaces, including 6 dedicated disabled spaces,9 parent and child spaces and 2 electric vehicle charging spaces. Secure covered cycle storage will also be provided for 28 bikes.
Existing vehicular access will be retained from Alton Road which will accommodate all traffic for the new Lidl to and from the site including deliveries.
It is proposed that the Lidl neighbourhood foodstore will be open between the hours of:
- 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday (including Bank Holidays), and
- 10am to 4pm or 11am to 5pm Sunday.
Lidl commissioned a Household Survey to provide information on the shopping patterns in Ross on Wye and Herefordshire as a whole. The revised Retail Impact Assessment demonstrates that the Lidl foodstore would have only a minor impact on the convenience goods turnover of Ross on Wye town centre and a negligible impact on comparison goods. Therefore, it is considered that the proposed new Lidl store will not have a significant impact on the vitality and viability of Ross on Wye town centre.
Significant work has been undertaken to consider any highways impact as a result of the proposed new store. A Transport Assessment affirms the site’s suitability to accommodate this use.
