Lidl has taken another step towards its proposed new supermarket near Aston Roundabout, with details of the scheme now appearing in Stafford Borough Council’s planning system.
The discount supermarket is proposing a store on agricultural land at Forge Farm, Stafford Road, between the A51 and A34.
A screening opinion request has been submitted to the borough council to determine whether an Environmental Impact Assessment will be required as part of the planning process.
It follows a public consultation launched by Lidl in June, when leaflets outlining the proposed development were distributed to homes in the Stone area.
The latest documents give further details of the scheme and show some changes from the proposals presented during that consultation.
The proposed foodstore would have a total gross internal area of 2,184 sq m, with a net sales area of 1,369 sq m and 126 car parking spaces.
When ALBOS first reported on Lidl’s consultation in June, the proposals included the same overall 2,184 sq m floor area, but a sales area of 1,529 sq m and 130 parking spaces.
The screening application, reference 26/42653/ESS, relates to approximately 1.1 hectares of land at Forge Farm, Stafford Road, Stone, ST15 0BH.
A covering letter submitted to the council said:
“The Screening Opinion request is submitted in support of a full planning application for the erection of a new discount foodstore with associated car parking and landscaping at land at Forge Farm, Stafford Road, Stone. The application site measures approximately 1.1ha (11,329sq.m).
“The site comprises agricultural land which benefits from an existing vehicular access from the A51 from the north. The proposed foodstore will have a total gross internal area of 2,184 sq.m with a net sales floorspace area of 1,369 sq.m, 126 car parking spaces and a trolley bay located adjacent to the store entrance.
“With regards to the size and scale of the proposed development, it is considered that the floorplate of the development, the height of the store and the nature of the surrounding built and natural environment would result in minimal local impacts. The design and scale of the building is considered to be in keeping with the architecture of the surrounding area and will utilise a muted and modest palette of materials and colours, minimising the visual impact of the development.
“It is considered that the proposed development would not impact on existing or committed development in the locality and would fit into the context of the surrounding area. The site occupies a highly sustainable location, with frequent bus services and good pedestrian and cycle connections; footways are provided along the northern side of the A51 and western side of the A34, with nearby bus stops on Stafford Road providing regular services to Stone town centre and Stafford.”
The comments about the potential impacts, design and sustainability of the site are the applicant’s assessment and will form part of the material considered through the planning process.
An environmental screening request does not itself seek planning permission for the supermarket. Its purpose is to establish whether the proposed development needs to be accompanied by a full Environmental Impact Assessment.
Earlier this year Lidl identified Stone as one of a number of locations where it was interested in opening a new store, alongside areas including Trentham, Cheadle and Biddulph.
Lidl GB chief real estate officer Richard Taylor said:
“At Lidl GB, we currently have one of the most ambitious store opening programmes of any supermarket and we are more committed than ever to bringing our high-quality and low-priced products to even more communities across the country.”
The screening application can be found on Stafford Borough Council’s planning system using reference 26/42653/ESS.
