Work set to begin later this year on Lidl supermarket for Dunmow near Tesco superstore

Lidl has won its battle to open a supermarket in Dunmow close to the town’s Tesco superstore.

The discount grocery chain will build the new outlet at Foxtons Yard, Stortford Road, after local planning authority Uttlesford District Council (UDC) granted planning permission.

The German retailer – which is also building a new store in Stansted Road, Bishop’s Stortford – is set to begin work towards the end of the year.

The plans include 119 car park bays with nine parent and child spaces, six for the disabled and two electric vehicle charging points. Around 40 jobs will be created.

The proposed opening hours are 8am to 10pm Mondays to Saturdays, 10am to 6pm on Sundays and 8am to 10pm bank holidays.

The site is currently occupied by Dunmow Fencing Supplies, which plans to relocate irrespective of Lidl’s planning application.

Tesco opposed the Lidl plans, claiming they were likely to have a “significant adverse impact on the vitality and viability of Great Dunmow town centre”.

A UDC planning officer identified concerns about “less than substantial harm” to nearby heritage assets and objections from the town council, but said the benefits outweighed the harm.

The officer’s report states: “The principle of retail use is deemed acceptable to both local and national policies and guidance. It will deliver a high-quality scheme at a gateway location.

“The design has been carefully considered to mitigate the impacts of the proposal on the heritage and nature designations, through the siting of the proposed building and increased tree planting within the site.

“Notwithstanding the proposed less than substantial harm to nearby heritage assets and objections from Great Dunmow Town Council, it is considered that the benefits of the proposed development – including redevelopment of an employment site, increased shopping choice to meet the needs of local residents, creation of new jobs for local people, enhancement to landscaping along Stortford Road and provision of enhancements to bus stop infrastructure – outweigh the harm and that the proposed development complies with the tests outlined in the National Planning Policy Framework.

“Overall, the proposals are in conformity with relevant local and national planning policies and the scheme results in a positive and sustainable form of development that is of planning merit.”