You are viewing content from Radio Exe Devon. Would you like to make this your preferred location?
Listen Live

New Lidl's approved for Pinhoe

Tuesday, 22 February 2022 15:41

By Ollie Heptinstall, local democracy reporter

Lidl site Pinhoe Rd (Courtesy, Google Maps, Local Democracy Reporting Service)

40 new jobs will be created

A new Lidl store has been approved in Pinhoe, more than two years after plans were first submitted.

The German supermarket branch will be built on a brownfield site at the junction with Venny Bridge, just down the road from the existing Aldi and Sainsbury’s stores.

Speaking at a meeting of Exeter City Council’s planning committee on Monday, a representative for Lidl said 40 new jobs would be created by the new store, which was approved unanimously.

The meeting heard how the application had taken longer than usual, due largely to discussions about changes to the road layout. Traffic lights and toucan crossings will be installed on Pinhoe Road at the junction with Venny Bridge.

While a report to the committee said this would make it “safer for all users, particularly pedestrians and cyclists,” it will cause the Pinhoe Road part of the junction to operate around “10 per cent over capacity” by afternoon peak hours in 2024.

Despite this, the report said officers “do not consider this to be a severe impact, which would point to refusal,” adding: “The new infrastructure will encourage pedestrian/cycle movements to/from the store, supporting the council’s ambition of becoming a net zero carbon city by 2030.”

At the meeting a Devon County Council highways officer said: “We looked at a number of access opportunities, including retaining the existing priority arrangement, but that just couldn’t be made to work safely.”

He admitted the new scheme “does increase journey time slightly” for those using motor vehicles, but “for pedestrians and cyclists, and indeed all road users, we think it will be considerably safer.”

A total of 71 public objections were submitted, with seven neutral and two in support of the plans, though the planning officer said the application had been altered a number of times and original objectors had been re-consulted.

Some concerns were raised about the potential for flooding after the planning report revealed the site failed a ‘sequential test’ – carried out to ensure a development is on land that has the lowest risk of flooding within the local area.

But the planning officers’ report said: “the proposed development will be safe and not lead to increased flooding elsewhere.”

Councillor Duncan Wood (Labour), who represents the area, said a new grocery outlet and improvements to the junction were both a “good thing” but questioned the location of the new Lidl, given it will be so close to the existing supermarkets.

He added: “The junction itself and the flooding are the main issues that I’m hearing about from the doorstep,” later concluding that the site and location were “not good” but that it was up to the committee to decide.

A speaker on behalf of Lidl defended the proposal, saying it would put  a brownfield site back into use – in line with the city council’s policy – and it would create 40 jobs, all above minimum pay rates.

She also said it would provide ‘betterment’ for flood risk compared to the site’s previous uses and that it would be served by smaller delivery lorries to avoid potential problems at the newly designed junction.

Supporting the plan, councillor Rachel Sutton (Labour, Exwick) said she welcomed the change to a signalled junction as part of the scheme but suggested more cycle parking than the 12 spaces proposed.

“There are always going to be people living in proximity to somewhere that’s a site that hasn’t been used, who won’t like a new use. Generally speaking, people don’t like change. They get used to what’s there and when it’s changes they don’t like it, but I think it’s going to be a useful addition and I’m minded to support it,” she concluded.

Councillor Keith Sparkes (Conservative, Topsham) was also in favour, saying it “seems to support green transport, brings jobs [and] is close to the local population.”

The committee approved the new store unanimously.

More from Local News

Listen Live
On Air Now Matt Rogers Playing Just Can't Get Enough The Saturdays