Lidl set to come to Sutton next year after council's planning committee rejected advice to turn it down

Planning officers said the new supermarket, which will be on the old Pretty Polly site, would have adverse effects on Sutton if it was to be built.

It was recommended for refusal as it failed a sequential test, where Ashfield District Council requires vacant land in the town centre to be prioritised when new developments are considered.

Planning permission to develop houses on he site, on Eastfield, was approved five years ago, but has since expired.

Councillor Chris Barron, chairman of the planning committee at Ashfield District Council, is pleased the new Lidl is set to be built.

He said: "There are certain conditions that Lidl must agree to before the site can be developed.

"The conditions are to protect the environment and protect the town."

Ashfield District Council have imposed certain conditions that Lidl must agree to before the supermarket can be built.

The German discount food retailer must contribute £120,000 to the redevelopment of Outram Street and Portland Square, and provide barriers on the front of the store to prevent anti-social behaviour.

Thy must also agree to noise reduction for nearby residents, and a lit footpath to be built.

Councillor Lee Anderson supports the new supermarket, and hopes it will breathe new life into Sutton.

Coun Anderson said: "The application originally failed a sequential test, and planners said it would have an adverse effect on the town.

"I called the application in nine months ago, as I felt it should be heard by the planning committee.

"The Pretty Polly site has been barren for 17 years, and it's an eyesore.

"I'm pleased the application has been approved, as no one else has come forward to develop the site, Asda needs competition, and 40 full time jobs with a living wage have been created.

"There will be more choice for shoppers, as I am sick to death of seeing charity shops, nail bars, barbers and takeaway shops being dumped in Sutton.

"We all need to take responsibility for saving our town centre, rather than complaining about shops shutting then then shopping online.

"The town centre has been dying for 30 years, but I hope this new Lidl will aid local businesses."

Councillor Jason Zadrozny, leader of Ashfield District Council says “Ashfield District Council is committed to the regeneration of our town centres and is focussed on attracting new businesses into the town centres.

"The approval of the Lidl store in Sutton doesn’t change that focus, but we understand that there is a need for out of town supermarkets.

"As part of the ongoing regeneration the Council will receive £120k from Lidl to be spent on improving the retail offer in Sutton town centre.

"The new store will create 40 new jobs and demonstrates that national retailers are wanting to invest in Ashfield."

There were 14 objections to the application, on the grounds that:

The road too busy already

Access from drives and road junctions will be difficult

The store will worsen already bad situation of traffic build up at A38 junction

Sutton Town centre will suffer massively,

Outram St is already a 'run down disgrace', this is where money should be spent,

Land is needed for housing

Conflict with bus stops

There was, however, 44 letters submitted in favour of the store being built.

Jo Hawley, Lidl UK’s Regional Head of Property, said: “We are delighted with the Planning Committee’s decision to approve our proposals for a new Lidl store on the old Pretty Polly site on Mansfield Road in Sutton-in-Ashfield. “This development, which represents a multimillion-pound investment in the town, will breathe new life into a site that has been left disused for more than 10 years, create up to 40 new full and part-time jobs for local people and provide local shoppers with more choice and convenience.

“Throughout planning, the proposals have attracted a great deal of public support and I would like to thank everyone who backed the plans so enthusiastically. “We hope to make a start on site in the Spring and would like to have the store open in time for Christmas 2019.

"We will be in touch again with the local community with further details as soon as we have more news to share.”