Spalding is set to get a new supermarket.
Plans for a Lidl superstore on the site of the former Welland Hospital were approved by the South Holland District Council Planning Committee last week.
Across the 1.04-hectare site, which also encompasses the former Bettinson Garage, a 1,325sqm supermarket with car park for 148 cars, servicing area, landscaping and associated works has got the go-ahead.
This is part of a larger, two-hectare site, which will also feature residential developments made up solely of affordable housing, according to the report.
It states that the Spalding Civic Society and MP John Hayes both lodged objections to the plans. Among the Civic Society’s objections were: no need for the shop had been demonstrated and the proposal was contrary to the principle of the town centre first for retail.
Mr Hayes wrote two letters, one concerned about the increase of traffic on
Holbeach road and concern for the impact it would have on town centre traders.
The report concluded Spalding had a “good range of food stores” and “demonstrates it is an attractive, vital and viable market town”.
In response to demand, applicant Lidl said it had sent out a total of 2,500 comment cards and left a further 1,000 cards in the existing Spalding Lidl store.
The report states that 486 cards were sent back, with 455 respondents (92 per cent) supporting the plans for the new superstore.
