New Lidl to be built in Bilston after plans approved

A Wolverhampton High Street will get a welcome boost, after plans to demolish an “outdated” supermarket were given the green light by the city council.

In November this year, German discounter Lidl released designs for a new store along with plans to knock down its existing store on Bilston High Street, to be replaced with a modern building with around 2,000 sq ft of extra retail space.

Approval for the scheme will provide a fresh lift for Bilston’s retail regeneration efforts, which also include an £8m market refurbishment which got underway in November under the direction of the city council.

The firm says the new building will make a “significant enhancement” to the shopping area within Bilston town centre, which is around three miles south-east of Wolverhampton city centre.

“The existing food store is constrained by its outdated design and operational limitations, which compromise the quality of service currently offered,” said a planning statement by Walsingham Planning on behalf of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

“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 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.

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

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