July 26, 2018 3.38 pm This story is over 68 months old

Lidl and homes approved for former hospital site

Concerns about potential traffic issues did not hamper the decision
Visuals of the proposed Lidl store in Spalding.

Councillors have approved plans for the site of the former Welland Hospital in Spalding which will see a multi-million pound Lidl store and 36 affordable homes built.

The first proposal approved for the Holbeach Road site was the supermarket which was  a joint application between Lidl UK and United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust ULHT.

A further application from ULHT for 36 affordable homes on the site was also aproved.

Though councillors appeared reluctant to begin with, particularly about the residential location for a supermarket and potential traffic issues, they acknowledged county council highways had not objected to the plans.

Councillor Andrew Tennant said there was ‘no exhausting the appetite for supermarkets in this country’ and said they were ‘always heaving’, adding: “Like it lump it, we spend a lot of our wages in supermarkets.”

The former Welland Hospital site in Spalding.

Other councillors suggested the supermarket would be better placed towards the town centre, Councillor Harry Drury said he was concerned over footfall being taken away from stores.

He did however praise the housing, which was applied for by ULHT.

“Isn’t it great to see residential development in a residential area,” he said, before adding that it was disappointing the county hadn’t asked for contributions towards education.

“Still, it’s 100% affordable housing,” he concluded.

Further concerns raised by councillors included the delivery times for the supermarket, and the size of houses. Councillor Bryan Alcock said he did not want properties ‘dominating’ nearby bungalows.

Plans for the Lidl store include state-of-the-art customer facilities such as an in-store bakery, longer-style tills with dual packing, customer toilets and baby changing.

The site would also include 148 car parking spaces and access from Holbeach Road.

ULHT said the sale of the land for the two developments will be reinvested into healthcare developments such as fire improvement works and new MRI equipment to help us further improve the quality of care we can provide.