Discount supermarket chain Lidl suffered a blow this week (Thursday 10th April) when Birmingham City Council Planning Committee refused its application for a new store in Northfield.
The proposals were met with a lot of positivity locally when consulted on by store developers back in 2023. The plans would have seen part of Northfield Shopping Centre demolished and a new ground level Lidl store and car park built on Bristol Road South.
However, at committee concerns were expressed on a number of issues including sustainability and landscaping.
Cllr Martin Brookes was also concerned that Victoria Common would be cut off. He said there were already 4 supermarkets within a ten minute walk, citing the apparent low use of the new Aldi in Stirchley as an example of where planning can go wrong.
He also felt the 40 jobs the proposal would create was not enough for such a large plot and said he believed a mixed use plan would be more beneficial.
Cllr Gareth Moore expressed support for the plans but a vote returned five to three in favour of a refusal.
The future for the site is now uncertain, with stores having already closed or relocated from the section of the shopping centre which would have been demolished.
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Lidl in stirchley is always busy have the councilors visited this store