Demolition plan for ‘outdated’ Bilston Lidl store

Retail giant Lidl has unveiled plans to build an updated supermarket to replace its existing store on Bilston High Street.

If approved, the scheme lodged with Wolverhampton City Council this week would see the firm’s current building demolished, and replaced with a modern, more energy-efficient, and “architecturally prominent” structure.

The company says it needs a larger sales area at the “outdated and operationally constrained” store, adding that the plans for the 2.5-acre site would help the ongoing regeneration of Bilston, which is around three miles south-east of Wolverhampton city centre.

The store was originally built for the Co-Op, but Lidl moved in to the premises in the early 2000’s.

“The existing foodstore is constrained by its outdated design and operational limitations, which compromise the quality of service currently offered,” said a planning statement by Walsingham Planning on behalf of Lidl GB.

“Redevelopment of the site to deliver a modern, fit-for-purpose retail unit would represent a significant enhancement to convenience shopping provision within Bilston town centre.

“The proposal would markedly improve the visual amenity of the site and the western extent of the High Street. These improvements would generate wider regenerative benefits, contributing positively to the vitality and attractiveness of the town centre as a whole.”

Permission to redevelop the site as a new food store was granted in 2022 – but lapsed in March this year – while in July, the city council approved separate plans to demolish the 127-year old Swan pub on Bilston High Street, ostensibly to make way for extra parking at the site.

The company says the development will result in an increase in the store’s sales area – up from 14,600 sq ft to around 16,000 sq ft – despite a reduction in the overall footprint of the store to around 23,300 sq ft.

A total of 155 car parking spaces are also included in the proposals.

The current supermarket also houses a fast-food outlet and a pharmacy in separate retail units, which are not set to be replaced as part of the scheme, which will be decided by Wolverhampton City Council following the end of the statutory consultation period on 16 December.

Architects for the scheme are Whittam Cox.

Documents and plans relating to the application can be found on the authority’s planning portal under reference: 25/01292/FUL