Lidl plans for Royal Wootton Bassett supermarket approved

Members of Wiltshire Council's planning committee agreed to the construction of Lidl going ahead, but not without some conditions first.

The original plans included the construction of a Lidl store, parking and adjacent country park at the Marsh Farm site, but now councillors have voted to include a precondition stating that landscaping for the park must be done before the store can open.

It comes after concerns that the non-obligatory country park would never be built, and was just a way to "sweeten up" the council.

Plans for a Lidl supermarket on the northern edge of Royal Wootton Bassett. (Image: Lidl)

The controversial application for a supermarket to be built at Marsh Farm, north of Malmesbury Road, was originally put forward in 2014 by Tesco.

After Tesco withdrew their application, German discount store Lidl became interested. However, the application has been amended and deferred multiple times due to drainage concerns with the care home next door.

The care home no longer has any concerns about the drainage strategy and Wessex Water has no objection to this proposal.

"The site is ideally located for residents with close access to bus stops," said Lidl in its application.

"The site is currently a private field which is inaccessible to the community. The proposed woodland and open space next to the store would open up the site for the whole community to enjoy."

At the meeting to decide the fate of Lidl's proposal on September 13, councillors raised concerns about access to the store, and road safety.

But senior officer Olivia Tresise assured councillors that a toucan crossing is already in place and would help pedestrians cross safely to the shop.

A site plan for the new supermarket and country park. (Image: Planning application)

Councillor Stephen Bucknall also raised concerns about the development of the country park, stating: "Lidl have not discussed it with the town council. All they did was put together a plan with lots of green on it and asked people do you like this. They say they're just doing it out of the goodness of their hearts but there is no way they can deliver it because they don't own the land."

The land at Marsh Farm is owned by Leader, and not by Lidl.

But Calne councillor Tom Rounds pointed out: "It's a great addition. I would applaud this way of going about business because they're actually contributing back to the community."

Councillors voted unanimously to include a precondition, put forward by councillor Chuck Berry.

That means that even when the Lidl store is built, it cannot be officially opened until landscaping of the park is complete.