Waitrose or Lidl? Serious doubts over new Shrewsbury supermarket

Waitrose, which is behind a plan to build a store at Oteley Road, Shrewsbury, has told Shropshire Council that a Lidl store proposed nearby would "seriously jeopardise the chances of this store happening."

It comes as Aldi announced that it no longer intends to build a store at Waymills in Whitchurch – despite having planning permission for the site.

The company says it will now look to sell the land instead but is "committed" to opening a store in the town.

Waitrose has planning permission to build a 30,000 sq ft store next to Percy Thrower's Wyvale Garden Centre on Oteley Road, Shrewsbury.

However, the project has stalled with Waitrose blaming "significant upheaval in the supermarket industry" for the delay.

In a letter to Shropshire Council, Ken Harrison, acquisitions and development manager at Waitrose, has asked the council to reject plans for a Lidl store at land next to Shrewsbury Town Football Club, despite not being able to say when his company will begin work on their supermarket.

He said: "I am still unable to say when the new store will be built, or indeed whether we would want to vary the application to improve its viability, but what is certain is that if the council approve the Lidl planning application, as a result of the impact it will have on our trade, it will seriously jeopardise the chances of this store happening."

Mr Harrison said that Waitrose is considering whether it should build a smaller store on the site, or "bring it forward for alternative development."

He said: "I anticipate a decision from Waitrose in the Autumn. That will be to proceed with the scheme as approved, seek to develop a smaller store, or bring the site forward for alternative development.

"I would very much hope that it will be the first option but there is no doubt that the council approving the Lidl application will significantly reduce the chances of this happening."

Meanwhile mystery surrounds whether an Aldi store will be built in Whitchurch after planning permission was granted nearly six years ago for the supermarket at Meadow View, Waymills.

No work has ever taken place on the site and now the firm has confirmed it is no longer interested in the land and is instead looking at other areas of the town.

Nicola Brown, spokeswoman for Aldi, said: "Aldi has decided not to pursue development at the Waymills site and has instead chosen to market it for other, more suitable uses.

"Aldi remains committed to bringing a store to Whitchurch and is working closely with Shropshire Council and local councillors to identify a suitable site.

"We look forward to updating the local community with our plans in the near future."