New Lidl store at risk as Tesco seek to block planning permission

Tesco have written to Wiltshire Council asking them to quash the recently approved scheme to build a Lidl supermarket to the east of Oxford Road in Calne.

Planning permission for the 2,280sq metre development, which will also see the construction of ten employment units, had been granted in late April and would create 300 local jobs.

But the German chain says their latest store is now at risk after representatives from Tesco issued a pre-action-protocol which could lead to a formal legal challenge.

Wiltshire Council confirmed they have been notified of the potential challenge to the decision and are now seeking legal advice.

A typical Lidl store included in the planning application (Image: Lidl)

Cllr Nick Botterill, the cabinet member for development control and strategic planning, said: "We can confirm that we have received notification about a potential challenge to Wiltshire Council’s decision to approve planning permission for a new Lidl store and ten employment units on land to the east of Oxford Road in Calne.

“We are currently seeking legal advice, and as such it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.”

The news has been met with anger by local councillor Ashley O’Neill, who said he was “appalled” by the supermarket giant’s behaviour.

He added: “I am appalled by the behaviour of Tesco in trying to prevent Lidl from opening a store in Calne through threatening legal action.

“At a time when many families are facing a squeeze on their household finances we need more choice of supermarkets in Calne and there was huge local support for Lidl's plans when they were announced.

“It's such a shame that Tesco is putting its own interest above those of residents in the Calne Community Area and I hope that they urgently re-think their decision and publicly withdraw from this action."

Plans for the store (Image: Lidl)

Tesco’s action reportedly comes after a spate of challenges and objections against new Lidl stores, including a failed attempt to block a planned Crediton supermarket in Devon.

Lidl claims around 4,000 members of the community registered their approval of the development and are now calling for residents to show support by writing to their local representatives or posting on social media.

Oliver McGuinness, the regional property director of Lidl’s UK operations, said: “Tesco will claim that their objections are based on material planning considerations, however, should their request to quash the planning permission be successful, it will benefit no one else but Tesco.”