Supermarket chain Lidl set to bring store to Royton

Supermarket chain Lidl set to bring store to Royton

26 February 2015

Dransfield Properties and Oldham Council have agreed terms with supermarket chain Lidl to build a new food store in Royton.

And on Monday (February 23) the council's cabinet agreed to the sale of council-owned land – currently used as King Street car park – that would facilitate the construction of a new 25,000 sq. ft. supermarket on High Street with up to 100 short stay car parking spaces.

Well-known retailer Lidl has more than 600 stores around the UK and is now set to submit a planning application for a new food store – which would bring up to 25 jobs to the area.

The local authority and Dransfield Properties have been working in  partnership to breathe new life into the district centre – which includes the redevelopment of the former Royton Assembly Hall and Albion Club sites.

Planning permission for a retail development was granted in May 2013 which sought to redevelop the former Assembly Hall site, along with a number of existing commercial units in the precinct and adjacent public car parks, into a supermarket and petrol filling station.

Strong interest was shown at the time and initial negotiations took place, but as a result of third party ownerships in the precinct area it has been extremely difficult to progress the original redevelopment scheme.

Jim McMahon, Oldham Council Leader, said: “Regeneration is long overdue within Royton’s district centre and despite the council and Dransfield facing several barriers – including a significant shift from established UK supermarket brands to new competitors – we hope residents will be pleased that we are close to reaching an agreement with a large, well-known retailer to deliver a food store.

"We’re all working hard to push the scheme forward and create a busy and fresh-looking town for the community. We also reflected on the importance of the wider district centre, and in particular the weekly market. It was vital that the supermarket complemented other users and didn’t seek to dominate the town.

"This development is set to boost the town’s economy and the proposed supermarket giant said it will bring in 25 full-time equivalent jobs and commit to working with our Get Oldham Working team.

"Recent discussions are a step forward for the area and, if the food store is approved, we hope this scheme proves to be a catalyst for further development in the area."

Andrew Malley, Retail Property Director for Dransfield Properties, said: “We have worked with Lidl on a number of projects over our company’s 23 year history and we are delighted to be bringing forward these plans for a new store in Royton.

"We have worked closely with Oldham Council over recent months to get the development to this stage and we know from our work in the area that everyone in the area is really keen to see this site developed and regenerated.”

Pictured are council leader Cllr Jim McMahon and Andrew Malley from Dransfield Properties when work started on clearing the site last year.

For further information, contact:

Public Relations Department, Dransfield Properties Ltd
Tel: 01226 360644
Email: pr@dransfield.co.uk