Aldi looking to open second Harrogate supermarket

German supermarket chain Aldi has added Harrogate to a list of locations where it would like to open a new store.

Budget supermarkets have been making inroads into the Harrogate district in recent years. Aldi opened its first supermarket in Harrogate on Oak Beck Road in 2016 and another store in Knaresborough in 2021.

Aldi’s rival, Lidl, has had a supermarket in Knaresborough for several years and is currently building a new Harrogate store on Knaresborough Road. Lidl also has plans to open a supermarket at St Michael’s Retail Park in Ripon.

The cost of living crisis could see cheaper supermarkets continue in popularity and now Aldi has released a list of over 50 towns and cities, including Harrogate, that it is targeting in the coming years.

The company is offering a finder’s fee for anyone who recommends a suitable site, which it says should measure 20,000 sq foot, be able to accommodate 100 parking spaces and ideally be near a main road.

George Brown, national property director at Aldi UK, said:

“Despite our growth in recent years, some people still don’t have access to a local store, which is why it is our mission to continue on with our ambitious growth plans and change that.”

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Drone photo shows Harrogate’s first Lidl taking shape

A drone photograph has shown that work on the Harrogate’s first Lidl is taking shape.

The photo, taken by drone photographer Darren Leeming, who lives near the site, shows the roof covered in solar panels.

But a considerable amount of building work still has to take place before the Lidl can open.

The supermarket is being built on the site of the former Lookers car dealership on Knaresborough Road.

How the supermarket will look.

Councillors granted planning permission to the German chain in August and work on site began in February.

It will be the first Lidl in Harrogate, although there is already one on Chain Lane in Knaresborough.

The new store will be open from 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.

The Stray Ferret asked Lidl for an update on work and an expected opening date but has yet to receive a reply.

Pure Gym to open in former Knaresborough supermarket

A Pure Gym is set to open in a former Knaresborough covid vaccine centre and Lidl supermarket.

The Lidl on York Road closed in 2018 when the supermarket relocated to a larger site nearby.

In February 2021, the site was taken over by Homecare Pharmacy Services, which administered thousands of covid jabs from a building in the car park until it moved in September last year to larger premises on Knaresborough’s Chain Lane.

In January this year, Harrogate Borough Council granted planning permission to convert the site into a gym.

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Now, documents submitted to the council have confirmed that national fitness chain, Pure Gym, will move into the site.

Pure Gym has lodged an application to the council to operate opening hours from 6am until 11pm, Monday to Sunday.

The company does not plan to increase the size inside the former Lidl unit and will instead use the existing space for the gym.

The council will make a decision on the opening hours at a later date.

The new gym would become Pure Gym’s second in the Harrogate district. The company operates a 24-hour facility on Harrogate’s Tower Street.

Work begins to build new Harrogate Lidl

Workers have this week begun to demolish the old Lookers car dealership on Knaresborough Road, Harrogate, to make way for a new Lidl supermarket.

Councillors granted planning permission to the German chain in August to build the supermarket, and six months later work is finally underway.

It’s the first Lidl to open in Harrogate, although there is already one in Knaresborough.

The multi-million-pound proposal includes a 1,263 square metre sales area, an in-store bakery, customer toilets and 94 parking spaces.

A CGI image of how the supermarket will look.

The new store will be open from 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.

A public consultation for the store revealed 87% of more than 1,000 responses supported it.

The Stray Ferret asked Lidl for an expected opening date but we did not receive a response at the time of publication.

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Former Knaresborough vaccine centre to become gym

Planning permission has been granted to convert the former covid vaccine centre and Lidl supermarket in Knaresborough into a gym.

The Lidl on York Road closed in 2018 when the supermarket relocated to a larger site nearby.

In February 2021, the site was taken over by Homecare Pharmacy Services, which administered thousands of covid jabs from a building in the car park until it moved in September to larger premises on Knaresborough’s Chain Lane.

Planning consultants Lichfields said it was not able to say which gym operator will be moving into the building at this stage.

Knaresborough is currently served by a variety of gyms, including Black Wolf Fitness, XS Fitness Club and Red Strength.

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Lidl store at Ripon retail park gets go-ahead

Plans for a new Lidl supermarket at St Michael’s Retail Park in Ripon have been given the go-ahead.

Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee today granted approval for the store, which the German retailer said will create up to 40 jobs and occupy three units at the £10m retail park.

Lidl also said the supermarket would represent a “multi-million-pound” investment into the Rotary Way site, which opened last year and is currently only occupied by Marks and Spencer.

Speaking at a meeting today, Liberal Democrat councillor Pat Marsh said she was happy to support the development because of the hundreds of homes set to be built in the area over the coming years, including plans for 1,300 homes at Ripon Barracks.

She said:

“This huge residential development is coming so there is a requirement to make sure that there is this kind of retail in Ripon.

“And what made me comfortable with this was the analysis of whether the store would impact on the city centre itself.

“Once that assured me it wouldn’t, I was very happy to support this to give the people of Ripon a choice in their shopping.”

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The Lidl plans were submitted to the council in May following a virtual consultation with the local community earlier in the year.

Today’s approval comes after separate plans for a Lidl store at the former Lookers car dealership on Harrogate’s Knaresborough Road were approved by the council last month.

Lidl previously said this store will also create up to 40 jobs once built.

Lidl supermarket in Ripon set for go-ahead

Plans for a new Lidl supermarket at St Michael’s Retail Park in Ripon look set to be given the go-ahead by councillors next week.

The new 11,840 sq ft store, which would create up to 40 jobs, has been recommended for approval at a meeting of Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee on Tuesday.

If councillors agree with the recommendation, the supermarket would occupy two units at the £10m retail park, which opened in July last year.

A report to next Tuesday’s meeting said:

“The proposed development is acceptable and meets the requirements of the sequential and retail impact tests.
“The development will create jobs and provide economic benefits to the local area.”

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The plans were submitted to the borough council in May following a virtual consultation with the local community earlier this year.

Lidl previously said the store would represent a “multi-million-pound” investment into the Rotary Way retail park, which is currently only occupied by Marks and Spencer and owned by Leeds-based retailers Rothstone Estates.

Separately, plans for a Lidl store at the former Lookers car dealership on Harrogate’s Knaresborough Road were approved by the borough council last month.

The German supermarket chain previously said these plans will also create up to 40 jobs.

First Lidl supermarket in Harrogate given go-ahead

Plans have been approved for the first Lidl supermarket to open in Harrogate.

Councillors on Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee gave the go-ahead for the new store on Knaresborough Road this afternoon.

The new supermarket will be built on the former Lookers car dealership site.

The multi-million pound proposal includes a 1,263 square metre sales area, an in-store bakery, customer toilets and 94 parking spaces and cycle parking at the front of the store.

Jonathan Harper, agent for Lidl, told councillors at a meeting today:

“There are a number of clear tangible benefits to this scheme.

“The development represents a significant investment by Lidl and will create 40 new jobs which carry clear importance at this time.”

Cllr Robert Windass, member for Boroughbridge, said:

“This site is derelict.

“I think it will be an asset to that part of Harrogate.”

Cllr Philip Broadbank, member for Harrogate Starbeck, said the development would be “welcomed and well used”, but added that delivery times and highways needed to be looked at when setting conditions.

He requested that a condition was set to reduce the delivery time hours from 11pm to 10pm.

However, Cllr Broadbank added:

“The site is generally acceptable and it does have quite a lot of support [from residents].”

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The new store will be open from 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.

Lidl has also submitted plans for a new store in Ripon.

The German supermarket chain has lodged proposals for a store at St Michael’s Retail Park in the city.

Earlier this month, the application won the support of Ripon City Council.

Harrogate’s first Lidl set to be given go-ahead

A plan to open Harrogate’s first Lidl supermarket looks set to be given the green light.

Harrogate Borough Council officers have recommended the proposal for Knaresborough Road is approved at a planning committee meeting on Tuesday next week.

If councillors ratify this, it would pave the way for the store to be built on the former Lookers car dealership site.

The multi-million pound proposal includes a 1,263 square metre sales area, an in-store bakery, customer toilets and 94 parking spaces.

It would open from 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.

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Lidl has also submitted plans for a new store in Ripon.

The German supermarket chain has lodged proposals for a store at St Michael’s Retail Park in the city.

Earlier this month, the application won the support of Ripon City Council.

Cllr Andrew Williams, leader of the city council, said:

“It will bring 40 new jobs, increase choice for Ripon’s residents and also serve our growing population, with the new homes that we have coming on stream.”

Lidl submits plan for new Ripon store

German supermarket chain Lidl has submitted plans for a new supermarket in Ripon.

The company has tabled the proposal for St Michael’s Retail Park in the city following an online consultation.

Lidl has planned for a 1,100 square metre store, which it says will create up to 40 new full time and part time jobs.

The company announced its intention to expand into the city last year and earmarked the £10 million retail park as its preferred location.

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Now, plans for the supermarket have been lodged to Harrogate Borough Council which will make a decision on the development at a later date.

A spokesperson from Lidl GB said:

“Many people have welcomed the proposed Lidl store, which would bring competition, increasing choice and providing a boost to the local economy through job creation. 

“Many also mentioned that a store on this site would reduce the need to travel out of the city to shop and therefore keep expenditure in Ripon. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the local community for their support so far and we look forward to further sharing and discussing our plans with them.”

The plan for Ripon comes as Lidl has also tabled a proposal for its first Harrogate store on the on the site of the former Lookers car dealership on Knaresborough Road.