Plans for new Lidl supermarket in Darwen are approved

The store is set to be built at the former Belgrave Mill in Bolton Road and will replace the current store in Duckworth Street, which developers said had become “constrained” and sometimes overcrowded.

Plans were submitted to Blackburn with Darwen Council in December after more than a year of pre-planning, having first been outlined by developers in May 2022.

The site at Belgrave Mill has previously had buildings demolished and foundations laid following approval for a residential development, but that has stalled for more than a decade over viability issues.

The site of the now approved Lidl store in Darwen from Wraith Street (Image: Google Maps)

The council approved the development of the new supermarket subject to a number of conditions, including the submission of further reports, agreement on restriction of opening times and delivery times, and the submission of plans for electric vehicle charging points.

A planning statement submitted to the council said: “The existing store in Darwen no longer meets the operational needs of Lidl and as such, a larger store is needed to adequately serve the customers of the store.

“This also includes the need for additional car parking as the existing store lacks sufficient car parking provision for customers.

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“The existing store site has limited room for expansion in terms of all aspects of Lidl’s current operation requirements.

“This has therefore resulted in a relocation option having to be considered.

“The proposal will also provide increased competition and consumer choice and create additional local jobs, in addition to improving convenience shopping in Darwen.

“The current store is constrained in terms of its layout and accessibility for customers, resulting in the store being crowded.

“This creates a less-than-ideal environment for Lidl’s customers which could deter some customers from using the store.

“In design terms, the current building is somewhat dated. The new store will provide a higher quality modern specification building and landscaped area, benefitting customers and employees, and residents in the area.”

The site from Bolton Road (Image: Google Maps)

Eighty-two car parking spaces will be created along with six disabled spots and nine parent and child spaces, taking the total to 97.

Around 40 full-time staff will be employed at the store, which will be open from 7am until 11pm Monday to Saturday, and 10am until 5pm on Sundays.

The site currently has two points of access; one access point is taken from Belgrave Road to the north-west and the other is from Wraith Street to the south.

However, the development will include a new access, which is proposed to be taken from the A666 Bolton Road on the eastern boundary of the site.

As part of the development, Wraith Street will be diverted such that it will be taken from the new access road, sharing the same new access point.

To view the plans in full, visit the Blackburn with Darwen Council planning portal.