Plan for new Lidl in St John’s

Lidl is planning to build a new supermarket on the old Meco site in St John’s.

Residents have received letters setting out the retailer’s plan to take over part of the old factory site in Bromyard Road.

A full planning application is yet to be submitted but Lidl has approached the city council for a screening request.

This is an early part of the planning process that calls for an assessment of the proposal’s environmental impact.

Documents show the store would be located to the east of the site, backing onto homes in Happy Land West, with a new access road being built opposite Watery Lane.

The supermarket would have 122 car parking spaces including six disabled bays, nine parent and child spaces and two electric vehicle charging bays.

City councillor Richard Udall said: “It’s a very interesting proposal – St John’s certainly needs a new supermarket.

“We will have to look at the details and we will do so with a fine tooth comb. I look forward to communicating further with the applicant and with residents.”

As well as the Lidl store, the plans include seven smaller “employment units”, which would share the proposed access road and have a total of 35 car parking spaces of their own.

The proposed opening hours for the supermarket are 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm Sundays.

There are already three Lidls in Worcester with the Droitwich Road store the most recent addition, opening in August 2022 and creating 30 new jobs.

Lidl also has stores in Blackpole and Newtown Road.

Letters sent to St John’s residents say the company wants feedback on its plans before it submits a planning application.

The letter says the proposed supermarket would create up to 40 new jobs for the area, while the employment units would provide homes for local start-up businesses.

On Facebook, a number of residents have welcomed the plans, saying St John’s needs another supermarket.

Other people have concerns over the impact the development would have on traffic in Bromyard Road, while some say they would prefer to see a retailer take over the old Co-op site in St John’s.