A new Lidl supermarket and housing development on a key site in Worksop is to go ahead, almost three years since a first application was made.

Bassetlaw planning committee gave a unanimous thumbs-up to the plans for the supermarket and 107-space car park, plus newbuild houses, this week.

The sizeable development will take shape on a brownfield site off Carlton Road, and close to the town’s train station, and North Notts College building.

It includes a 1,256sqm supermarket with an in-store bakery, along with 89 new homes.

It's happening - a new Lidl store has been approved by Council planners and is coming to Worksop

placeholder image — It's happening - a new Lidl store has been approved by Council planners and is coming to Worksop

A previous application was refused back in 2023, but revised plans were submitted last year and have now met with full approval.

Townsfolk have largely welcomed the plans for the large area of scrubland, as they wil create more jobs, revenue and homes, but there are also concerns that the supermarket will attract people away from the struggling town centre.

This was key among the reasons why planners previously chose to refuse the development.

The housing element has acquired outline planning permission, and will include affordable homes, with more details of the design and layout of buildings to be made available in future weeks.

The brownfield site near Worksop's train station that is to be developed, with a Lidl store and 89 houses.

Around 300 members of the public commented on the plans prior to approval, with many citing the need for new housing and more local jobs as the strongest reasons for it to go ahead.

Objections included potential impact on the standard of living for people already living close to the site, with added traffic and noise.

Philip Jackson, chairman of Worksop Business Forum, said: "I feel the new Lidl supermarket won't be good for Worksop.

“We already have a range of supermarkets selling similar style products and they are likely to be affected with reduction of takings.

“I'm not against competition, or the town growing, but there is a lot of work going on to regenerate the town centre, and this will give residents just another excuse not to come in to town.

“We do need more housing so that is positive, with the added facilities that developers need to put in place.

“But there are only so many people in the Worksop and Bassetlaw areas and another supermarket will spread their spend more thinly.

“We are seeing new businesses come in to the centre, but need a mix of independents and national brands. People are working very hard to build it up.”

Cllr Steve Scotthorne, cabinet member for Identity, Planning and Place at Bassetlaw District Council, said: “Planning Committee carefully considered the application that was put forward and resolved to grant permission for the development, subject to legal agreements.

"We will now work in a constructive way with the developers so that the necessary matters are in place before work on the site can begin.”

Two buildings on Blyth Road, within the conservation area, were acquired by Lidl to be demolished and allow ‘appropriate access’ to the site for the proposed mixed-use development.

A key difference between the successful application and previous applications on the site, say the papers, is the removal of a proposed ‘drive thru’ with car parking, and inclusion of additional housing and landscaping in the northwestern part of the site.

The amended scheme will also reduce traffic generation from the proposed development during peak hours.