Lidl is making another attempt to open a new store in the Norfolk town of Gorleston, near Great Yarmouth. The German discounter, which operates over 1,000 stores in the UK, has submitted preliminary plans to Great Yarmouth Borough Council for a supermarket on an undeveloped site at Beacon Park, off Beaufort Way and Hodds Lane.
Previous Plans Scrapped, New Location Proposed
The move comes two years after Lidl's previous scheme on Links Road in Gorleston was ditched. The company now hopes to build around half a mile up the road at Beacon Park. In May 2024, Norfolk County Council secured permission for 446 homes on Links Road, but the joint scheme with Lidl was withdrawn in 2024 following local opposition.
Lidl has been trying to establish a presence in Gorleston since 2021, initially as part of a joint venture with Norfolk County Council that also included housing. However, those plans were shelved after backlash from residents.
Benefits for Local Shoppers
Supermarket bosses have stated that a new store would provide increased choice and competition for people living in the area. Lidl is the second-cheapest supermarket chain in the UK, according to recent price comparison surveys.
Nationwide Expansion Underway
Lidl is in the midst of a major expansion across the UK, with several new stores planned in towns and cities. Earlier this year, the supermarket named hundreds of locations where it wants to open new stores. The company recently received approval for contested plans in Didcot, Oxfordshire, where 6,300 new homes will be built. Didcot Town Council had previously objected to the 2024 plans over flood-risk mitigation concerns.
Richard Taylor, chief real estate officer at Lidl GB, said: "At Lidl GB, we currently have one of the most ambitious store opening programmes of any supermarket, and we are more committed than ever to bringing our high-quality and low-priced products to even more communities across the country."
£600 Million Investment
Lidl GB has confirmed plans to open more than 50 new stores in the next year as part of a £600 million investment. The company has been contacted for comment on the Gorleston proposal.
