Refusal recommendation for supermarket and care home plans

Proposals for a new Lidl store and care home at the former Mercure Hotel site in Wetherby have been recommended for refusal by planning officers.

The application is due to go before a council planning panel next week.

As well as the Lidl supermarket, it includes proposals for an 84-bed care home and eight senior living eco-homes for the over 55s, provided by Springfield  Healthcare.

Lidl says if the panel overturns the officers’ recommendation and approves the scheme, it will create around 160 new full and part-time jobs for the  local economy.

The discount supermarket chain says its plans received “tremendous” support from the community during the pre-application stage.

It says more than 820 local residents signed a petition or sent letters in support of the application to Leeds City Council.

Lidl GB’s regional head of property, Liam Schofield, said: “There is widespread support for the development, and we’re incredibly grateful to the local community who continue to come out and back the plans.

“Given this strong support, we were naturally disappointed to hear that planning officers have recommended the application is refused.”

Graeme Lee, CEO of Springfield Healthcare Group, added: “As well a new Lidl store and much needed elderly care and senior living accommodation on this site, the plans would also regenerate this key gateway into Wetherby, creating local jobs and representing a significant boost to the local economy.”