Thumbs up for Lidl at former Worcester Meco factory
A supermarket and five trading units will be built at the site of a former Midlands engineering works, after councillors approved development plans for a four-acre plot.
Hybrid proposals for the former Meco industrial site on Bromyard Road were put forward in November, with German discounter Lidl seeking full permission for a 23,500 sq ft food store earmarked, and outline permission for five adjacent trading units and two business incubator units.
Lidl completed its purchase of the Bromyard Road-facing portion of the former Mining Engineering Company site, known as the South Works, in October 2024.
Proposals put forward by the firm include demolition of all industrial buildings on the site, was built as the home of mining machinery manufacturer Mining Engineering – known as Meco – in the 1920s.
The scheme had been recommended for approval prior to Worcester City Council’s planning committee meeting on Thursday, 17 September.
Proposals for a Lidl store and trading units on Bromyard Road in Worcester were put forward in November 2025. Credit: Whittam Cox vis planning portal
City council planning officers said that the loss of employment land to retail would be offset by the potential 40 jobs created by the development, while the proposals industrial units would balance against the physical loss of employment land.
A sequential test had also ruled out the former Co-Op site at St Johns, which the applicant said was on the verge of being sold to another retailer, with exchange of contracts due “imminently”.
Councillors approved the scheme subject to a number of conditions – including a pedestrian link to Happyland Walk, and a pedestrian and cycle link from Meco Alley.
Designs for the scheme have been provided by Whittam Cox Architects. The project team includes Knight Frank, Rapleys, SCP, Cora IHT, FDA Landscape, DDA, and Tetra Tech.
- Documents and plans relating to the application can be viewed on Worcester City Council’s planning portal using reference: 25/00439/FUL
