27 May 2021

Lidl acquires site for new store proposals at Woodhead Road, Birstall

Lidl GB and C&W Property Developments have acquired a 3.78-acre site off Woodhead Road in Birstall, close to the Junction 27 Retail Park, and are preparing to submit a planning application to Kirklees Council for a new Lidl store. The plans also include a new Home Bargains store for the site.

The new development would provide a 23,412 sq ft Lidl supermarket and a 24,535 sq ft Home Bargain store with garden centre, along with 175 shared car parking spaces including 10 accessible, 9 parent & child spaces and two rapid electric vehicle charging spaces.

If successful, Lidl’s proposals for a modern, spacious supermarket for Birstall, will include an in-store bakery and customer toilets. Along with the new Home Bargains store, the development would create around 110 new full and part-time jobs for the local economy.

The vacant site off Bankwood Way previously had office and warehouse buildings which failed to attract tenants.

A spokesperson for Lidl GB said: “We are really pleased to be working in partnership with C&W Property Developments. Following positive community consultation, we are preparing to submit a planning application for a new Lidl store in Birstall. A new Lidl in this location will improve local shopping choice and bring a much needed supermarket to the area. We look forward to working with Kirklees Council as these proposals progress.”

C&W Property Developments is a joint venture between Caddick Construction Ltd and property developer Duncan Waller.

Duncan Waller commented: “Centre 27 Retail Park is strategically located at the intersection of the M62 and M621 motorway in the Birstall area of Leeds. The shopping park currently has representation from some of the UK’s leading retailers.

“Lidl and Home Bargains will further expand and complement the Park, strengthening the overall Birstall offer. The success of Junction 27 Retail Park is testament to customers seeking choices and value in an accessible, secure and safe retail environment.”

Adrian Dobson, managing director of Caddick Construction, added: “We look forward to transforming this vacant site into a high-quality retail development.”

The proposals can be viewed on the dedicated website – www.lidl-birstall.com.

The new Lidl store forms part of the company’s £1.3bn investment plans across Great Britain in 2021 and 2022. Its ongoing success shows no signs of slowing, with the latest Kantar Worldpanel results highlighting Lidl’s increase in sales year on year and market share of 6.0%.

Lidl has recently been awarded ‘Supermarket of the Year’, ‘Most Sustainable Retailer Initiative of the Year’ and ‘Fresh Flower Retailer of the Year’ by the Retail Industry Awards. Lidl is a Living Wage employer and recently increased the entry level starting rate to £9.50 per hour.