Councillors have scuppered a bid to get a new Lidl in Huddersfield...for now.
The German firm had been hoping to get going with knocking down the Kirklees College eyesore and building a new store to replace its ageing Castlegate outlet.
But Kirklees councillors on the Strategic Planning Committee have deferred the plan amid their concerns about its design.
The proposal is likely to be re-considered in the next few months.
READ MORE:
READ MORE:
Lidl wants to build the new supermarket on the Trinity Street side of the site facing the ring road formerly occupied by the college.
But Cleckheaton Lib Dem, Clr Andrew Pinnock, said he wanted more information about the plan for the other half of the site, the former Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, which includes a rare Grade 2* listed building and a Grade 2 listed statue of King Edward VII, before he could vote for it.
Clr Pinnock also agreed with concerns about the use of some materials on the outside of the store, raised by Huddersfield Civic Society.
And he also highlighted potential issues with vehicles queueing to get in and out of the store on Trinity Street and Portland Street.
Kirklees Highways officers said lengthy discussions about access had already been had and there was no better solution.
The design would see a right-hand turn lane created on Trinity Street going out of town, to allow cars to turn across the road into the site.
The inbound and outbound lanes would be narrowed to make space for it.
READ MORE:
READ MORE:
Cars leaving Lidl would only be allowed to turn left back towards the ring road.
An alternative exit for vehicles going towards Marsh or Edgerton would be created on Portland Street.
But Clr Carole Pattison also said she also feared jams would be caused by the store.
Councillors Donald Firth and Donna Bellamy agreed that planners needed to be firm about the use of materials as there were other examples of recent buildings not being able to stand the weather.
Frank O’Brien from Huddersfield Civic Society said the group had objected on the grounds of design and claimed the firm had plans to use artificial stone cladding.
He said some of the materials planned were “incapable of standing the rigours of Pennine weather” and would look unsightly within a short time.
Kirklees planning boss, Bill Topping, said natural stone not artificial stone would be used and revealed Historic England supported the scheme.
But councillors voted to defer the decision to allow Lidl to consider the materials again and whether more information about the second phase of the scheme, tipped to be a medical centre and care home, could be confirmed.
