Supermarket chain in receipt of its latest £5m store
A property and development company has delivered a new multi-million pound Lidl supermarket, following the regeneration of a rundown former industrial site in York.
S Harrison has transformed the 2.36 acre James Street site into a 21,054 sq ft Lidl, which backs onto Foss Island Retail Park.
The supermarket will stock a large range of products, as well as offering an in-store bakery. It will open its doors in November, once the internal fit out is complete.
S Harrison appointed Leeds-based Castlehouse Construction to carry out construction work on the project, which also includes 130 parking spaces, with four bays for electric vehicle charging. It is expected that 40 new jobs will be created.
Andrew Wharton, from S Harrison, said: “We are highly experienced at giving disused sites like this a viable new future, attracting investment, development and ultimately new jobs for local people.
“The community has really welcomed this development and it’s exciting to see a site that has languished for years totally changed for the better.”
The Lidl project follows on from S Harrison’s recent delivery of a mixed use scheme at the junction of Union Terrace and Wigginton Road, where it converted a former chapel and car park into 16 apartments and a new Co-operative Food store.
Wharton added: “The appetite is there for local food stores – people want convenience, keenly priced products and easy access, the new Lidl will deliver all of these things.”
Graham Burr, head of property at Lidl, said: “Representing the freehold site owner, S Harrison actively engaged with our legal and property team to conclude the lease agreement and specification without delay, whilst using their undoubted development expertise to gain planning and adopted highway approval from City of York Council.
“Their professional, detailed approach to construction procurement on a challenging site, and their transparency with Lidl as tenant, resulted in the completion of the retail unit on programme, in budget and to an exceptional standard. We would be delighted to continue our relationship on future new stores.”
To mark the completion, S Harrison has continued its support of York-based charity Safe and Sound Homes (SASH).
The company has been working with the charity, which helps to prevent young people from becoming homeless by offering them a room in the home of volunteers, for three years.
Its latest donation will cover the cost of finding, inducting and training two new volunteer hosts to provide emergency Nightstop services and Supported Lodgings.
