Plans for Welshpool supermarket looks set to be kicked out

Lidl wants to open a store in Welshpool, opposite the town's current Tesco supermarket in Mil Lane.

But Powys County Council's planning committee has been recommended to refuse the plans on the basis it will drive business away from the town centre.

The supermarket said it wants to build the store on the former Smithfield site, because it says there is a need for the store in the town.

However, a number of people say the store should be located in the former Co-op store in Berriew Street.

But planning officer Steve Packer has recommended councillors refuse the application.

He said: "Lidl contend that there is a quantitative need for the store.

"However their assessment is considered flawed in that included a larger catchment area than could be justified.

"The council's retail consultant is of the view that there is not a quantitative or qualitative need for the store, which is a consideration in its own right in policy terms.

"The empty Co-op store is in a preferential location where it is an integral part of the town centre and the possibility of restructuring it to accommodate Lidl's floor space, and investigating the possibility of use of the existing car parking has not been thoroughly explored.

"The applicants have not been prepared to consider the purchase or leasing of part of the central car park and have not given any detailed account of why the existing building is unsuitable for adaption."

A representation made on behalf of Morrisons, which has a supermarket in Berriew Street, said: "We consider that the above application should be refused.

"In summary, we consider that the proposal is not located within a defined centre or on a site allocated for retail or town centre use in an up-to-date development plan and the applicants have provided a flawed assessment of retail need.

"In this respect we consider that the application has failed to identify a clear quantitative need for the proposed development.

"The applicants have underestimated the impact on Welshpool town centre because the retail need assessment is flawed and has overestimated the amount of expenditure available to the proposal.

"Furthermore, the likely turnover of the proposed Lidl store has been significantly underestimated.

"As a result of this, a greater amount of trade will be diverted from existing facilities, thus having a serious impact on the turnover of existing facilities."

Powys County Council will discuss the application at a meeting at Neuadd Maldwyn, Severn Road, Welshpool on Tuesday at 10am.