Plans for North Devon Lidl submitted

40 jobs promised

Lidl supermarket has submitted plans for a food store to serve Chivenor and Braunton after “overwhelming support” for the scheme in a public consultation.

More than 1,300 people expressed their views with 92 per cent backing the new store off Tinever Road, said the company, which plans to create 40 new jobs.

North Devon Council will decide on the proposal which will include an in-store bakery.

A key theme emerging from the consultation was the desire to reduce the need for residents to travel outside the area for everyday shopping. Respondents said the store would reduce the need to travel out of area to places like Barnstaple, and the nearby location would “help reduce traffic on our roads”.

The existing car park would be relocated within the site to provide a revised 35 space long-stay car park in addition to the supermarket’s car park which would offer 117 customer parking spaces with two rapid electric vehicle charging bays, covered bicycle parking, and dedicated accessible and parent-and-child parking spaces.

Pedestrian access would be included to the nearby bus stop to encourage sustainable travel to and from Braunton. This would be owned and managed by the North Devon Council.

Suzannah Clemo, regional head of property at Lidl GB, said: “This is an important milestone in our ambition to deliver a new Lidl store for Chivenor, Braunton and the surrounding communities. 

“The store would improve shopping choice, provide access to our high-quality, affordable products, and create new local jobs.  Our public consultation demonstrated significant community support, and we are grateful to everyone who took the time to respond. The final decision now rests with North Devon Council, and we encourage residents to share their views through the planning process.”

The plans can be viewed on North Devon Council’s planning portal under reference 81418.