Shoppers on an island off the Kent coast will be able to shop at Lidl after the discount store won planning approval for a new site, despite multiple objections from rival retailers Tesco and Aldi. Lidl has been seeking approval for its first branch on the Isle of Sheppey for three years, but faced a series of delays due to repeated objections.
Tesco lodged a final “11th-hour” dispute with the plans ahead of a meeting of Swale Council on Thursday, March 6, citing a “significantly adverse” impact on Sheerness Town Centre and the Halfway Houses Local Centre. However, councillors overruled the objection and gave a green light to the project, which Lidl says will deliver 40 new jobs, improved local pedestrian access and footpaths and a public art installation by a resident artist. The discount supermarket also said that 91% of Sheppey residents who had responded to its public consultation were in favour of the new branch.
Both Tesco and Aldi initially challenged the plans in 2023 and 2024, with Aldi following through on legal action to have the then-approved development thrown out last year.
A new Aldi store has also been proposed for the island – with the cumulative impact of two new supermarkets cited by Tesco as a reason for its repeated objections.
Adarm Forsdick, regional head of property of Lidl’s Great Britain operations, said: “We are thrilled that Swale Council has once again granted planning permission for our first Isle of Sheppey store, despite a last-minute objection from Tesco.”
“The continued support from those in the area has been incredible, making it clear that previous objections have not been in the interest of the community,” he told The Grocer.
“We therefore want to thank everyone who has stood by us throughout this journey. This new store will provide local shoppers with access to our high-quality, affordable products while also bringing new jobs and investment to the island.
“We know the delays have been frustrating, but we hope we can now move forward and bring our plans to life.”
A spokesperson for Tesco said the chain “does not object to the vast majority of planning applications submitted by our competitors” and suggested that its opposition to the Isle of Sheppey plans was “based on material planning considerations”.
