New Lidl will bring 'multi-million pound investment' to town

Following the granting of planning permission for a new store on land off Wyvern Way and next to the A629, Lidl says it is now a 'step closer' to bringing 'market-leading value to local shoppers'.

An image of how the new Lidl store will look (Image: Lidl)

Permission for the development was granted by North Yorkshire Council's Skipton and Ripon Area Planning Committee earlier this month, despite concerns about the loss of some land earmarked for employment and the impact of additional traffic.

Lidl says it is delighted to receive planning permission, which is subject to the completion of a Section 106 agreement, and will give details of when work will start, and when the supermarket will open, as plans progress.

A spokesperson for Lidl GB said: “We’re delighted that the Skipton and Ripon Area Planning Committee has resolved to grant planning permission for our new Lidl store off Wyvern Way, subject to completion of the Section 106 agreement.

“This will pave the way for a multi-million-pound investment in Skipton. This decision brings us a step closer to delivering new local jobs, unlocking space for further employment development, and bringing our market-leading value to local shoppers. We’d like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone across the community who has supported our plans throughout the process.”

The hybrid application gives full permission for a Lidl food store with parking, access and landscaping, alongside outline permission for new employment units.

Layout of the new Lidl store in Skipton (Image: Lidl)

However, around 1.2 hectares of land designated for employment will instead be used for the supermarket, while around 0.5 hectares will remain for proposed employment units.

The loss of employment land divided councillors, with the council’s own economic development team warning that reducing the amount available in well-serviced strategic locations could limit opportunities for future business growth and investment.

Planning officers acknowledged the loss of employment land was ‘regrettable’, but said the site had been marketed since 2018 without credible interest in the plots covered by the application.

They concluded there was no reasonable prospect of the supermarket site being developed for its allocated employment use.

The site, next to the A629 bypass (Image: Lidl)

The supermarket is expected to create up to 40 full-time equivalent jobs, while officers concluded there remained an unmet need for additional convenience retail in Skipton.

Highways officers raised no objection to the scheme, subject to conditions and financial contributions.