LIDL has announced plans to open a supermarket in Barnard Castle, creating 60 jobs.
The multi-million pound retail development at the site of the former Addisons auction house, off the A688, would also include a Home Bargains store.
Development firm Consolidated Property Group, which is behind the proposal, will hold a public consultation at The Witham, in Barnard Castle, on Tuesday, November 27, between 2pm and 8pm, for people to view the plans.
The developer’s managing director, Martin Ridgway, said: “This is an opportunity for the local community to view the plans and ask questions before we submit an outline planning application.
“The auction house site has been vacant for three years and this development will bring back into use the redundant site.
“There has always been a requirement for another food-store in Barnard Castle to ensure trade is retained in the town and to offer more food retail choice in the town. It will prevent people having to drive further afield to places such as Bishop Auckland to do their regular household shopping. This in turn will deliver significant sustainability and environmental benefits as well as new job opportunities.”
The scheme’s design team will be on hand during the consultation to answer questions and explain more about the proposals.
Some 60 full-time and part-time jobs are expected to be created if the development is approved by Durham County Council. The plans include a Lidl foodstore covering 20,882sq ft and a Home Bargains store of 15,000sq ft, as well as 144 parking spaces, including parent and toddler and disabled bays.
The proposals also make provision for electric vehicle charging spaces.
A spokesperson said it could take two to three years before construction on the new retail park gets underway.
County councillor Richard Bell said: “I have yet to see the plans, but in principle I would give it a cautious welcome as a good use for that site.
“There may be fears about possible loss of trade from the town centre, but currently there is a huge loss of trade from the dale to all the supermarkets at St Helen Auckland and Bishop Auckland I will be asking the county planners to do the sums on that aspect.”
A need for additional retail in the town was identified earlier this year in the latest version of the County Durham Plan, which identifies areas of development in the county until 2035.
At the time, Durham County Council said “a single small Morrisons store” meant a “lack of choice” and that many residents were spending their money out of town.
The Lidl scheme comes several years after the farmers’ auction mart, in Vere Road, was involved in unsuccessful discussions about building a supermarket on its site.
