Plans for Crediton Lidl's deferred

Councillors were to vote this week

Plans for a new supermarket in Crediton, due to be considered by councillors this week, have been deferred.

Mid Devon District Council’s planning committee was to vote on the new Lidl store at The Rec on Wednesday [20 April]. However chairman Peter Heal revealed it had been withdrawn from discussion.

When asked why, an officer for the council later said additional information was received over Easter which “requires further officer input and consideration and as such, members would not have had all the information they needed before them to make a decision.”

Their statement added: “Officers will continue to work on the application and we trust it will be presented at a future committee in due course.”

The German retail giant hopes to build a new store on one of the rugby pitches at The Rec, which is currently leased to Crediton Rugby Club by the Queen Elizabeth Education Foundation.

If approved, one of the conditions is that up to £400,000 is provided to relocate the rugby club, as well as a further £100,000 for the county council to provide a zebra crossing on Commercial Road.

A contribution of £87,000 would also be sought for air quality measures to help the flow of traffic through the Western Gateway, St Lawrence Green and/or the High Street in Crediton.

In recommending approval at this week’s meeting, prior to the application being pulled, a planning officer concluded the store “will contribute to customer choice within the town of Crediton with a limited impact on the existing traders.

“The development is also not considered to result in a detrimental impact on the character of the area.”

It added: “In addition the economic benefits in terms of increased employment in the locality, financial contributions towards air quality mitigation and assistance in the relocation of Crediton Rugby Football Club have also been taken into account.”

The plan has attracted widespread interest from the local community. A total of 319 letters have been received, of which 300 are in support, 14 against and five described as “general comment.”