Lidl to build new Bishop's Stortford supermarket later this year
A new supermarket in Bishop’s Stortford is set to open in the autumn, two years after councillors approved plans for it. The construction of the Lidl supermarket, on a site on Stansted Road previously occupied by the Gates of Stortford Ford showroom and garage, is in “full swing”.
It will create around forty new jobs, with employees “receiving one of the highest pay rates in the sector” according to a Lidl spokesperson. The project is expected to bring around £12 million in investment to the area.
The project has taken three-and-a-half years to reach this stage, with the initial planning application submitted in July 2021. When councillors voted to approve the development in December 2022, they were told it represented a “direct benefit” to the economy.
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The store itself will include a bakery and a ‘Middle of Lidl’ aisle, as well as toilets for customers with baby-changing facilities. There will be 147 parking spaces in the 1,334 sq m sales area.
Kate Bleloch, regional head of property at Lidl GB, said: “It’s exciting to see that our first store in Bishop’s Stortford is progressing, with construction now in full swing. With 76 per cent of residents backing our plans during the consultation phase, it’s clear there is a strong desire for our best-value offering in the area.
“We’re pleased to say we’re on track to open before the end of 2025 and will of course continue to keep the community updated as things progress.”