Latest twist in Keynsham discount supermarket wars after refusal

Lidl, which wants to build a store on the Jewson site at Broadmead Lane in Keynsham has suffered a setback after being refused permission to demolish two industrial units at the site.

The Jewson site opposite Waitrose in Keynsham

The discount supermarket chain recently applied to Bath & North East Somerset Council for prior approval to knock down buildings which it said are no longer fit for purpose – but has this week submitted another application including the information the council said was missing the first time.

Meanwhile, rival retailer Aldi is still waiting to hear whether it will be granted planning permission for a store at the nearby former Brincliffe Nursery site on Bath Road. The planning application was submitted two years ago.

Lidl’s planning consultants recently lodged an objection to Aldi’s plans, saying the need for a limited assortment discount (LAD) store in Keynsham isn’t disputed, but the Jewson site is much closer to the town so should be considered “preferable”.

Lidl had hoped to start demolition work at the Jewson site opposite Waitrose on 1st May, saying the work would take four to six weeks and the site would be secured with a solid hoarding.

But the council refused the request, citing “insufficient information to assess the likely potential impacts of the proposed demolition on protected species, including bats”.

The council said the nearby Broad Mead field Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI) is known to provide foraging and commuting habitat for bats.

One objector to the demolition raised concerns about the impact of a supermarket at that location, saying: “If this went ahead, the traffic would be even worse in this area than what it is now.

“There are no pelican crossings at the Broadmead roundabout, and it is very difficult to cross the road there.

“It would be the death knell for Keynsham High Street which could do with a boost. If Lidl or Aldi for that matter wanted to have a supermarket in Keynsham, it should be in the High Street or somewhere very close to the High Street.

“We lost the opportunity to have another decent size supermarket in the centre of Keynsham when the new town hall was built.

“The Sainsbury’s Local could have been much bigger to encourage people to shop in the centre of Keynsham.”

Now Lidl has submitted another application for the demolition of the two units, which includes a preliminary ecological appraisal to provide the council with an assessment of the potential impacts of the proposed development on protected species, including bats.

Lidl hopes to start demolition at the start of June.