Planning permission has been granted for the construction of a new LIDL supermarket on Wetherby Road, replacing the existing Mercure Hotel. The development will also include an 84-room care home and eight senior living homes.
The approval came following an appeal by Lidl GB Ltd and Springfield Healthcare Group Ltd, after Leeds City Council initially refused permission. The Planning Inspector decided that the project met national and local planning requirements and would not harm the vitality of Wetherby town centre.
The supermarket will add competition to the area, although it will operate out of the town centre. It is expected to cater to a growing demand for retail options locally. The development also responds to the need for older persons’ housing, identified as a significant issue in planning assessments.
Conditions attached to the approval include measures to address noise, traffic, and biodiversity. Specific landscaping and tree-planting plans are required, and noise mitigation measures will protect nearby residents. Construction of the care home and senior housing must be completed before the supermarket opens.
While there were objections from local stakeholders, the Inspector concluded that the project’s benefits outweighed potential concerns and allowed the appeal.