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Lidl set to beat Aldi in race for town supermarket

Owen SennittNorfolk
PA Media A sign saying Lidl is on the left, with its yellow, blue and red logo. The entrance to an Aldi store can be seen on the right, with a blurred figure exiting from the shop.PA Media
Both German discount supermarkets wanted to open a store in Holt

Council officials have recommended just one discount supermarket should be built in a town where two rival firms have been vying to open about 800m (0.5 miles) apart.

Lidl wants to open off Nightjar Road in Holt and planners have told councillors they should approve the scheme at a meeting next week.

On the other hand, officials are opposed to Aldi's planning application for land off Old Station Way due to road safety concerns.

Both German companies have gained support locally from more than 300 people wanting the stores to open, with some arguing Holt needed "more affordable" food options.

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Holt is a popular visitor destination and is known for its Georgian architecture and busy weekend market.

Budgens is the main supermarket, but there is also a smaller Morrisons Daily connected to a BP garage.

People wishing to visit larger stores have to travel to neighbouring towns such as Cromer and Sheringham.

Google Land off Nightjar Road, where Lidl wants to build a supermarket, seen in a street view image, showing a road leading to a roundaboutGoogle
Both supermarkets would open next to the A148, a busy road that takes traffic through Holt

Both Aldi and Lidl put in applications with North Norfolk District Council to create a supermarket on the edge of the town on plots of land next to housing.

Access would be from the A148, a busy road that carries lots of traffic every day.

Aldi's scheme is facing objections from Norfolk County Council's highways department, which deemed the proposed access from the road as unsafe due to the large volume of traffic.

The Lidl application is also generating concerns about road safety from members of the public but highways officials did not oppose the plans, with the site benefiting from being located next to a roundabout.

Both stores, while supported by large numbers, have also drawn criticism over concerns their opening would harm the viability of independent businesses in the town centre.

Planning officers have recommended the Lidl store be approved at a meeting on Thursday, while the Aldi store is set to be refused.

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