Supermarket part of plans to help revamp 'dingy' Eastwood high street
A line of ‘dingy’ buildings on Eastwood high street could be transformed as hopes for a large supermarket chain have been mooted.
Plans are quietly in the pipeline to try and draw more shoppers and visitors to the town.
Its high street, in Nottingham Road, is currently populated with some independent shops, a few chains, some cafes and bars – but a portion of units along the road are empty.
One dull, grey row, between where Blades of Gold barbers sat and the former Top Chef takeaway restaurant is noticeably empty.
It is where the large Peacocks on site closed in March 2024 and before that the Maxisaver shop in the former Wilsons building closed in late 2023.
Department store Boyes moved into the former Wilsons building in August 2025 from its unit next door, but other units in the strip remain empty.
This section is part of the former Central Co-operative – ‘Co-op’ – site and Broxtowe Council leader, Coun Milan Radulovic (Brox All) says his authority is ‘more than interested’ in developing the spot to draw in more small businesses and a supermarket.
He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “Our officers have been in communication to Lidl and Aldi and explained our interest in putting in an incoming proposal in developing a town centre site – it is early stages and we haven’t confirmed anything.
“I have full support off my colleagues.
"Hopefully we will be able to bring development on board and develop the site for the long-term interest of Eastwood town centre.”
The leader said he has concerns for the trope of the ‘decaying town centre’ – which has not just impacted Eastwood – and says he has seen a decline in small businesses.
He continued: “To bring another food anchor in the town would greatly increase footfall and make it a focus for employment, e-commerce and trade – what we need to see is town centres evolve to meet current market trends and need.”
Coun Radulovic says the aim is not just for the strip of units to be renovated but to give it ‘life and purpose’.
He added: “It’s not just about bringing a supermarket in, it’s a whole raft of plans alongside it.
“The new DH Lawrence country park, Colliers Wood plans, Brinsley Headstocks – it’s all to protect our cultural heritage and to bring investment into the town.
“That will then be a boom for small business to set up alongside us.
“We’re not looking to compete with them, but to work alongside them.
No plans for the council to acquire and revamp the former Co-op site is currently confirmed, with a spokesperson saying: “A number of options and the feasibility of these are being considered but we are not able to share more details at this stage due to commercial sensitivity.”
If plans do come to fruition, the authority would plan for all existing businesses on the site to be retained in the updated facilities, according to the leader.
The LDRS contacted Lidl about any looming plans for it to move into Eastwood and the supermarket giant stated it was ‘always open to exploring new opportunities’ for more sites.
However, a spokesperson said no specific new sites in Nottinghamshire had been secured at this stage.