Plans for a new Lidl supermarket in Skipton have been approved despite concerns about the loss of land earmarked for employment and the impact of additional traffic.
North Yorkshire Council’s Skipton and Ripon area planning committee approved the scheme for land off Wyvern Way today.
The hybrid application gives full permission for a Lidl food store with parking, access and landscaping, alongside outline permission for new employment units.
However, around 1.2 hectares of land designated for employment will instead be used for the supermarket, while around 0.5 hectares will remain for proposed employment units.
The loss of employment land divided councillors, with the council’s own economic development team warning that reducing the amount available in well-serviced strategic locations could limit opportunities for future business growth and investment.
Cllr Andy Brown voted against the plans.
He said:
“I think there are three main points.
"Firstly, it’s designated employment land, and we already have a shortage, so we shouldn’t be taking away employment land that we need.
“Secondly, it generates no net gain in jobs, and thirdly, it’s not in a sustainable location and would have a negative impact on Skipton town centre.”
Planning officers acknowledged the loss of employment land was “regrettable”, but said the site had been marketed since 2018 without credible interest in the plots covered by the application.
They concluded there was no reasonable prospect of the supermarket site being developed for its allocated employment use.
The supermarket is expected to create up to 40 full-time equivalent jobs, while officers concluded there remained an unmet need for additional convenience retail in Skipton.
Cllr Barbara Brodigan supported the scheme, saying:
“We’re not in a dire situation in terms of having no employment land.
“I think it’s fair to say that building a retail site here, alongside the proposed employment units, will act as a catalyst to attract other businesses to the site.”
Cllr Robert Heseltine also backed the application, pointing to the 63 representations in support compared with six objections.
He argued the development would increase competition, help keep shopping prices down and create jobs.
Skipton resident James Porter, who lives off Carlton Road, told councillors traffic had already increased significantly following development in the area.
He said:
“To now consider sending daily shoppers from Skipton town centre down Carlton Road to shop at Lidl, well, that would be a complete nightmare for residents.”
Cllr Andy Solloway, local division member who is not on the committee, said both supporters and opponents had raised concerns about traffic, unfinished link roads, difficult junctions, parking and disconnected walking and cycling routes.
He argued the wider piecemeal development of Wyvern Park demonstrated shortcomings in the current system of Section 106 agreements and infrastructure levies.
The meeting also heard how it had been suggested during the public consultation that the store could have a grass roof with sheep grazing on top.
Highways officers raised no objection to the scheme, subject to conditions and financial contributions.
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