Plans approved for Newcastle’s new Lidl store

According to local reports, the proposals had been staunchly opposed by rivals Tesco and Aldi, arguing it would compete against existing supermarkets and cause traffic problems in the area.

Speaking at the meeting, council planners said an impact assessment had been carried out by Lidl as part of the planning process.

Marks and Spencer could see their turnover fall by 6.7 per cent while the Tesco superstore is facing a six per cent fall. However, the assessment found that the competitors would still continue to operate, and concluded that both they and the town centre would continue to “operate successfully even with the impact of Lidl”.

Concerning the potential impact on traffic, Lidl had agreed to pay for improvements to the nearby Brunton Lane roundabout – installing toucan and zebra crossings and changing the road’s layout.

The committee also heard that retail consultants Nexus noted that the only alternative site in the area was the one currently being developed by Aldi. Planners said that the store was due to open in March and jobs were already being advertised.

Officers were therefore of the view that the site was not available and could not be occupied by Lidl, meaning the current site was acceptable, reports stated.