Agent says Lidl was the only business to make a firm offer for Ashfield House site in Ashby
By Graham Hill 29th Mar 2024
Lidl has provided a published list of parties who showed an interest in buying Ashfield House in Ashby - but did not make an offer on the site.
The bargain supermarket chain, which already has stores in Coalville and Swadlincote, wants to demolish the building and construct a brand new store in Resolution Road.
That would be in an area already served by Tesco, Aldi, B&M and M&S.
Tesco has already lodged objections to the scheme.
This has led to concerns over traffic congestion, but North West Leicestershire District Council also raised questions over the need to bulldoze an office block.
The council posed a series of questions to Lidl last year over their plans to knock down the existing building
A response came from Lidl's agents, Rapleys, which said that the loss of employment land is 'justifiable in this instance' adding there had been no demand for office space.
Now North West Leicestershire District Council has been given details of parties who enquired about moving in - but did not follow through.
The information has been provided by Birmingham-based real estate agents, JLL, which says Lidl completed a deal to buy the Ashfield House site in January, 2023, after a year on the market.
A letter to Lidl from JLL - which has been passed to North West Leicestershire District Council - says that eight parties showed an interest in buying the site before Lidl did.
JLL says among those enquiring was a property investment company which considered the property was; 'A risky investment due to minimal letting prospects and the inability to easily sub-divide.'
A care home business also showed interest but 'did not progress due to the cost and complexity in converting the existing building'.
JLL says a private trust investment company rejected the site as an investment because of 'the lack of demand for office space and the investment was deemed too risky'.
An industrial developer said it planned to take on the site, but it was 'not financially viable'.
JLL adds that no offers were received for the site other than from Lidl.
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