Birmingham City Council planners have approved the demolition of the Wickes DIY store on Stratford Road in Hall Green to make way for a new Lidl supermarket, subject to certain conditions.
The new Lidl will be a 24,000 sq ft store with a 120-space car park, creating approximately 40 jobs for the local area. No opening date has been confirmed yet.
Details of the Development
The Wickes store has stood in Birmingham for 29 years, first opening in 1996. A report by the council's planning officers stated that the new Lidl would improve the appearance of the site. The supermarket will follow Lidl's standard layout and latest designs.
However, the plans do not meet the BREEAM Excellent rating, a leading global green building certification for buildings scoring 70% or higher on the BREEAM assessment scale. Lidl stated that achieving this rating is not "achievable or viable," according to PlaceMidlands.
Council Report Highlights
The city council report noted: “The form of the proposed building is functional, but not unacceptable in the context of the appearance of others in the immediate vicinity or the building to be replaced.” It added: “The proposed additional landscaping along the two road frontages and tree planting at the southern end of the site would help to ensure that the scheme adds to the overall quality of the area.”
Public Support and Other Plans
Following a public consultation launched last month, 93% of over 300 participants were in favour of the proposals. Lidl is also planning to demolish the former Harborne Day Care Centre for another 24,000 sq ft location.
