Planning permission granted for new Lidl store in Edinburgh

Director of Planning in Great Britain, Keith Hargest commented:

“This new store Seafield Road is in a key strategic location to serve the north eastern part of the city. Gravis Planning successfully managed the process for a series of planning applications and an appeal to enable its development, together with two additional units. The planning strategy included submission of a number of applications; initially a S42 application to enable the retail of food from the unit and then detailed applications for the formation of an additional non-food retail unit and Class 3 (Food and Drink) unit.”

“Following an initial decision to refuse planning permission, Gravis successfully appealed this decision at a public inquiry (held online due to Covid-19) by rebutting the planning authority's refusal reasons concerning both the application of the Town Centres First / Sequential Approach policy and demonstrating that the proposal addresses both quantitative and qualitative retail deficiencies in the area served by the store.”

“Gravis co-ordinated all specialist sub-consultant inputs for both planning applications, led the presentation of evidence at appeal, and co-ordinated the appeal process with Lidl’s legal counsel. After securing planning permission at appeal, Gravis submitted additional planning applications in support of amendments to the scheme to enable use of the additional two units for non-food retail and as a café / restaurant.”

In addition to securing planning permission for the new Lidl store in Edinburgh, Gravis was also successful in winning an appeal against the refusal of planning permission for Lidl advertising in Penicuik, Midlothian. This involved proving to the Council that this advertising was compatible with the setting of a conservation area.