UP TO 40 new jobs will be created on the southern edge of Bridgwater after plans for a new Lidl supermarket near the M5 were given the go-ahead.
Lidl GB Ltd. applied in January 2024 to build a new supermarket on Carnival Way within the Bridgwater Gateway site, which will eventually comprise nearly 500 new homes and commercial units a stone’s throw from junction 24 of the motorway.
After around a year of consultation, Somerset Council has given the plans the green light, meaning that construction could begin before the end of the year.
This approval will also speed up the delivery of a new pedestrian crossing over Wilstock Way, providing safer access between the new homes and local facilities via the Wilstock and Stockmoor Country Park.
The new store will be built on the southern side of Carnival Way, just to the east of the Costa Coffee drive thru outlet (where Domino’s Pizza and Greggs are also hoping to open new units) and south of new industrial units which were granted planning consent in May 2023.
Access will be from Carnival Way, with 105 parking spaces being provided – including six accessible spaces, nine parent and child spaces, two electric vehicle charging bays and 12 spaces for motorcycles.
Pedestrian access will be provided along Carnival Way and the A38 Taunton Road using the existing walking and cycling network.
However, the German supermarket giant has agreed to provide around £31,200 towards the cost of a new signal-controlled crossing over Wilstock Way, which links the Wilstock and Stockmoor housing estates to the A38.
This crossing will provide access to the store for Wilstock and Stockmoor residents, as well as allowing people who move into the Bridgwater Gateway homes to walk or cycle to Somerset Bridge Primary School without using the busy main road.
Dan Templeton, director of Planning Potential (which is representing the supermarket), said: “It is not within Lidl’s gift to provide a pedestrian access directly from Wilstock Way.
“Lidl has committed to providing a financial contribution towards the delivery of a new light-controlled pedestrian crossing on Wilstock Way, which will be secured through a Section 106 agreement.
“This will ensure that an improved crossing point is provided for customers visiting the store from the Wilstock and Stockmoor area to the north.
“The crossing itself will be delivered by Somerset Council’s highways department as part of planned improvements to the local area.”
Lidl recently provided a small extension to the Strawberry Line active travel route as part of its new, larger outlet on the A39 Strawberry Way in Wells, which opened its doors to customers in late-January.
The Carnival Way plans were approved through the delegated powers of the council’s planning officers, rather than a public decision by its planning committee north (which determines major applications within the former Sedgemoor area).
Construction on the new store is expected to get under way later in the year.