Lidl plans approved in Grove

The Vale of White Horse District Council’s planning committee granted permission for a class E retail store – namely a Lidl – to be built on a green field east of Grove Road, next to Elm Farm Business Park.

Lidl and GSC Estates first submitted plans about two years but they were rejected by councillors over concerns it would take up too much green space.

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A new application was submitted in February this year which planning officers had recommended to be refused due to the potential impact on Grovelands Local Centre – in particular the Co-Op store.

However, after mass public support, a unanimous decision was made at a meeting last night (August 17) to approve the building with 32 conditions such as a landscaping scheme, travel plan and confirmation of opening times.

Speaking at the meeting, Richard Ackers, of Grove Parish Council, said the local authority "strongly supports" the application.

He said: "The district council has approved five and a half thousand new homes in the last few years which means more residents with mouths to feed.

"I must be accepted there is a need for a new food store in Wantage. The overwhelming support for the application is so residents have a choice of where to shop.

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"Having a Lidl store will take away the need for residents to travelling to shop and using their cars."

He added that the Co-Op is "nothing more than a convenience store" that people go to in order to "top up" their weekly shop.

"The Co-Op has been in a state of disrepair for years and is not an inviting place to shop," he said.

Andrew Holding, founder of Lidl Wantage and Grove Supporters (WAGS) group, added that a poll he conducted on Facebook had 827 votes with 95 per cent wanting a Lidl in Grove.

At the meeting, he said the Co-Op does not "meet the needs of the community in the cost-of-living crisis".

"The council has a duty of care to meet all the residents needs,” he said. “127 Wantage and Grove foodbank deliveries in two months and 19 new food bank referrals from January to June.

"There needs to be a balance between protecting the Co-Op and meeting the needs of the community."

Councillor Janet Shelley proposed going against officers recommendations and approving, seconded by councillor Mike Pighills.

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He said: “There has been a large expansion of people in the Wantage area and not a large expansion of the food retail capacity.

“Looking at the bigger picture, we have to support this application."

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Read more from this author

This story was written by Gee Harland. She joined the team in 2022 as a senior multimedia reporter.

Gee covers Wallingford, Wantage and Didcot.

Get in touch with her by emailing: Gee.harland@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @Geeharland

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