Support Lidl at Muller Road, Horfield

Lidl gained planning permission (Ref. 14/05539/F) to build a new supermarket at the former Brunel Ford dealership on Muller Road in March 2016. The approved store had a gross internal floorspace of 1,465 sq. m with a sales area of 1,063 sq. m and a car park providing 57 spaces.

Unfortunately, plans for this store have not progressed due to constraints relating to the size of the site, which limited the amount of floorspace in the supermarket and restricted the number of customer car parking spaces. The proposed store was also in close proximity to existing residential properties to the north and west of the site, as well as the Horfield allotments.

To overcome these constraints, we have been in discussion with Bristol City Council to purchase the former First Bus Depot, which has been derelict since July 2010. The former depot is located to the south of Lidl’s previous site and can deliver a larger store for local residents with ample parking for both cars and bicycles

The Proposal

We have recently submitted a planning application (Ref. 17/05939/F) for the redevelopment of the Former First Bus depot located to the south of the former Brunel Ford dealership on Muller Road, Horfield.

Specifically, the proposal is for a new Lidl store comprising of a 2,206 sq. m site with a sales area of 1,325 sq. m, a warehouse totalling 555 sq. m and 245 sq. m of ancillary floorspace. The new store represents a total increase of 741 sq. m compared to the previous approved scheme on Muller Road with an increase in sales area of 262 sq. m.

The proposal also includes a total of 158 car parking spaces, including 10 disabled and 8 parent and child spaces. There will also be provision for cycle parking at the front of the store. The delivery bay is to the west of the store with delivery vehicles turning into the site in forward gear and then reversing back into the delivery bay.

It is proposed that the food store will be open between the hours of:
• 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday (including Bank Holidays), and
• 10am to 4pm or 11am to 5pm Sunday

Benefits of the Proposed Development

The development of the site will provide the following benefits to the local area:

• A purpose built store which provides a clean and fresh shopping experience to meet the needs of customers;
• A dedicated in-store bakery;
• Improved shopping choice and provision of a new mainstream discount operator for Horfield and the surrounding area;
• A contemporary building design that will complement the surrounding area;
• Employment opportunities, including up to 40 new retail jobs for local residents;
• Landscaping will improve the visual amenity of the site including soft landscaping around the boundary of the site.