Lidl could soon open a new store on the site of a former Buzz Bingo hall in Salford, replacing previously approved plans for nearly 300 affordable homes.
The supermarket giant has submitted a prior approval request to Salford Council to check whether it needs further permissions to demolish the building off Hankinson Way in Pendleton. In a statement, Lidl said: “The project relates to the demolition of existing buildings and associated car parking areas located on the site to form a clear space for the proposed construction of a new Lidl supermarket.”
Plans for affordable housing scrapped
The site was previously earmarked for an affordable housing scheme with 270 flats. Zetland Capital and an offshoot of Donard Affordable Homes were granted planning permission in 2022 to build three blocks, with the tallest reaching nine storeys. The towers included 117 one-bedroom apartments, 137 with two bedrooms, 10 three-bedroom flats and a quartet of three-bedroom maisonettes.
At the time, the development was broadly welcomed by local councillors, who said it would bring ‘much-needed’ homes to the urban centre of the city. Councillor Philip Cusack told a planning committee on September 2, 2022: “This makes a significant contribution to the city. It’s the kind of development that Salford deserves.”
Demolition expected to start mid-November
But it seems the plans have been scrapped, as North West Place reported the two-acre plot had been sold off by Zetland earlier this year. The five-week demolition is due to start around mid-November if the council signs off on the plans. The building will be torn apart by a 10-tonne excavator, starting with the roof section, followed by the walls and floors to ground level.
It’s understood a planning application for the store will be submitted separately. Lidl, Zetland, and Donard Affordable Homes were contacted for comment.
