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ASDA and Lidl in battle over bid to bring new supermarket to Highland capital near notorious roundabout


By Val Sweeney

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STORE wars have broken out over plans to build a new supermarket in the Highland capital.

Lidl wants to develop a food store and up to 38 homes on a greenfield site in Sir Walter Scott Drive close to Inshes roundabout.

But Asda, which has a supermarket nearby, has lodged an objection citing various reasons including the retail impact, stating that Lidl’s original trading philosophy as a “deep discounter” has slowly shifted towards that of a traditional supermarket.

Lidl's great rival, Aldi, already has a presence close to the proposed site at the Inshes Retail Park.

The application is still at the consultation stage and Highland Council’s development plans team has already said the proposal should not be supported after raising concerns including the potential impact of extra traffic on key transport improvements including Inshes roundabout – a notorious traffic bottleneck.

It also maintains the proposed retail development would be against the proposed Inner Moray Firth local development plan.

Asda, which has a store in Invanhoe Avenue, agrees and also notes council officials have raised concerns that land allocated for food retail in the development brief for Inverness East – an expanding area – has not been factored into assessments submitted in support of Lidl’s application.

It continues: “Additionally the applicant suggests that Lidl’s trading philosophies differs from a traditional supermarket by selling from a limited core range (compared to other supermarkets) of mainly exclusive own labels.

“However, while this may have been the original philosophy of the ‘deep discounter’ it is evident that there has been a slow but steady change towards that of a traditional supermarket when considering store size, ranges on offer, proportion of comparison goods, and labelled goods.

“This would be reflective in the turnover being more akin to that of other foodstore operators.

“The applicant has overstated the difference between the proposed operator and the existing supermarkets in the area.

“The proposal will compete with the town centre stores and therefore the council must set aside the ‘discounter’ case which the applicant relies so heavily on.

“The council needs to be content that they are approving a certain level of food retail floorspace which could ultimately be occupied by any retailer.”

If approved, the plans are expected to create up to 40 jobs for the local community and will represent a multimillion-pound investment.


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