Discount retailer Lidl has announced that it plans to open its new Stoke Gifford store this Thursday, 5th April.

Located within part of the former B&Q building at Fox Den Road [BS34 8SP], the store occupies a unit that sits between The Range and Poundstretcher.

Customers are invited to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony at 8am and will be offered the chance to sample some of Lidl’s award winning products throughout the day, along with exclusive deals and offers on selected products for the first week of opening.

The new supermarket forms part of the company’s ongoing expansion and regeneration plans in the UK and has created 40 new jobs for the local community. The store features an in-store bakery, longer-style tills with dual packing, a customer toilet, baby changing facilities and ample parking for both cars and bicycles.

Lidl UK’s regional head of property, Glen Stidever, commented:

“We would like to thank all those who have played a part in bringing this new Lidl store to Stoke Gifford. It is great for us to be able to create more jobs and investment opportunities in the area, and we can’t wait to start serving our multi-award winning products to the local community.”

The prospect of a Lidl supermarket opening at the Fox Den Road site was first revealed by the Journal in September 2016, after the firm commissioned a report that was included with a planning application for subdivision of the former B&Q building.

More: New store expected to draw trade from Asda and Sainsbury’s »

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The former B&Q building in Fox Den Road, Stoke Gifford looks likely to become fully occupied once again by early next year following recent announcements from two major retailers.

Following the subdivision of the property into four separate units (1, 2A, 2B & 3), DW Fitness opened in unit 3 (closest to the Ring Road) in January 2017. Variety store The Range has since moved into unit 1, leaving the middle two units, 2A and 2B still to be occupied.

Shopfitters have been working inside unit 2B in recent weeks and it is has recently been confirmed that discount variety store Poundstretcher will open here on Thursday 9th November.

Back in September 2016, the Journal reported that a document submitted as part of a planning application suggested that discount food retailer Lidl was considering opening a store at the site and the firm has now confirmed its intention to open in unit 2A in early 2018.

A Lidl spokesperson told the Journal:

“Fitting-out of the new store is expected to begin before the end of the year, with a view to opening in spring next year.”

“The store will have a 1,485m² sales area and there are plans to create up to 40 new jobs.”

Lidl UK’s Regional head of property, Glen Stidever, commented:

“We are delighted to be opening a new store in Stoke Gifford, which marks another milestone in our ambitious store expansion programme. We look forward to getting started on construction and opening our doors in the not too distant future.”

Above: How the retail stores will line-up at Fox Den Road, Stoke Gifford.

More: Lidl also looking to open at site in Patchway »

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Discount retailer Lidl is looking to open a branch within part of the former B&Q building in Fox Den Road, Stoke Gifford, the Journal has learned.

A planning application has been submitted to South Gloucestershire Council seeking permission to vary conditions on the original planning application for the building to allow its subdivision, permit the sale of food and drink and make changes to the external elevations, including the installation of full-height glazing and sliding double doors and the creation of a trolley bay.

The building has been vacant since B&Q ceased trading in June 2016, although only part of it had been in use for some years after B&Q reduced its floorspace.

Planning permission to convert another part of the building into a gym was granted in April 2016. That unit, at the end closest to the Ring Road, is currently being fitted out and is expected to open under the DW Fitness brand in the new year.

A ‘retail assessment’ statement submitted with the application states: “Although a specific tenant is yet to be finalised, discussions are ongoing and it is anticipated that the end user will be a Limited Assortment Discounter (LAD).” However, an additional document, the ‘transport assessment’, clearly identifies the potential tenant as Lidl.

According to the applicants, the proposal “will enhance convenience goods provision in the local area, affording local residents a greater choice of convenience shopping facilities”. Furthermore, “it will provide an additional discount foodstore and promote competition between operators”.

The retail assessment anticipates that the Asda store at the nearby Abbey Wood Retail Park will experience the highest level of trade diversion as a result of the proposed development, due to an overlap in target market. The new store is expected to derive 30 percent of it turnover from this source, representing a 10 percent impact.

The adjacent Sainsbury’s store is also expected to be affected, but to a slightly lesser degree, resulting in a 5.4 percent impact on convenience turnover.

Plans and reports may be viewed on the South Gloucestershire Council website under reference PT16/4626/RVC.

This article originally appeared in the September 2016 edition of the Bradley Stoke Journal news magazine, delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH, to 9,500 homes in Bradley Stoke, Little Stoke and Stoke Lodge. Phone 01454 300 400 to enquire about advertising or leaflet insertion.

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A new Co-operative store looks set to open soon in Stoke Gifford after South Gloucestershire Council granted planning permission for external modifications to the former Parkway Tavern on Hatchet Road.

Work on internal changes to the former public house has been going on for some weeks, but this did not require planning permission, as a change of  use from Public House (Class A4) to Retail (Class A1) is classed as ‘permitted development’ under the Town and Country Planning Act.

Members of  Stoke Gifford Parish Council had expressed concerns over parking, access, delivery times and noise. Three local residents also made representations, with at least one questioning whether another convenience store is needed in the area.

A condition attached to the planning permission is that a  Service Vehicle Management Strategy be submitted by the applicant, the purpose of this being  “to ensure that conflict between large vehicles and the operation of the car park and store is controlled and planned in the interests of highway safety”.

No deliveries, with the exception of newspaper deliveries, are permitted between the hours of 8pm and 8am.

The new store is likely to open “in a few weeks”, according to an agent for the developers speaking at a site inspection meeting last month.

Three further planning applications, relating to signage, the installation of air conditioning units and the installation of an ATM (cash machine) are still pending a decision.

The Southern Co-operative has been advertising for staff (Team Leaders & Customer Service Assistants) at the new store since the end of August.

Photo: Councillors inspect the site on 13th September.

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