Lidl expansion in Whitchurch shelved after badger sett found

The supermarket chain submitted an application in July to expand its store in Bridgewater Street.

But it has now decided not to pursue the scheme after being told relocating the badgers would be "detrimental" to their natural habitat.

It had hoped to build an extension to provide room for a new bakery and enhance the store's cold storage facilities. Bosses said the extension would be built at the back of the store which is currently unused and overgrown.

However, officials contacted the Environment Agency after a badger sett was found.

Sophie Lambert-Russell, spokeswoman for Lidl UK, said: "We had submitted an application to provide the store with a new bakery. However, we have since discovered badgers on the land we were hoping to develop.

"We have been in discussions with the Environment Agency about relocating the badgers however have concluded that doing so would be detrimental to their natural habitat. We will therefore not be pursing an extension to this store."

Resident Michael Beach was among those who had objected to the plans. He said: "This is probably one of the last areas in the town centre for wildlife. We have a good population of birds which occupy this site including nesting as well as other protected species.

"The new freezer plant would be in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week, which we object to due to the extra noise which will be created."

John Hughes, development and communications manager at Shropshire Wildlife Trust, welcomed the supermarket's decision to pull the plans for the extension. He said: "It's great to see large businesses taking their corporate social responsibilities seriously."

Initially, the Lidl expansion application was accompanied by an ecological appraisal, which identified the development as posing no threat to protected sites of species.