The go-ahead for the proposed new Lidl supermarket in Ashby moved a step closer this week after an Appraisal of Retail and Town Centre Issues stated there was no reason to refuse planning permission.

A report by Nexus Planning, on behalf of North West Leicestershire District Council, looked at the effect of the planned store on Ashby town centre.

Lidl wants to demolish the current Ashfield House building, a former office site, and build the new supermarket.

But while the report says that having a Lidl on the Resolution Road site may have a negative effect in diverting custom from the town centre, it says that refusing planning permission would not be supported on retail and town centre planning policy grounds.

The area is already served by a number of stores, including Tesco, Aldi, M&S and B&M.

There have also been concerns about the level of traffic already using the nearby road junctions.

The report says: "The National Planning Policy Framework indicates that planning applications for retail uses, that are not in an existing centre and not in accordance with an up to date development plan, should be refused planning permission where they fail to satisfy the requirements of the sequential approach or are likely to result in a significant adverse impact.

"In respect of the sequential approach to development, the Council's Planning Policy Team has concluded that the application proposal passes the sequential test and thus our own assessment focusses on the 'impact' tests outlined in local and national planning policy.

"We do not believe that the grant of planning permission for the proposed development would lead to a significant adverse impact in respect of existing, committed and planned public and private sector investment.

"In terms of the principal in-centre trade, diversion will occur from Ashby-de-laZouch town centre (and its Co-op stores most particularly).

How the new Lidl in Ashby would look. Image: Lidl

"We have undertaken a 'sensitivity test' to understand the likely level of trade diversion from these stores and have visited Ashby to understand its general vitality and viability.

"Based on this, we are satisfied that there would be no 'significant adverse' impact arising as a consequence of the development.

"We note that an adverse impact should be weighed in the planning balance in determining the application. On this basis, the Council can consider the diversion of trade away from Ashby-de-la-Zouch town centre to be a negative impact capable of being weighed in the balance.

"Conversely, improvement in customer choice is a positive consideration in accordance with the NPPF.

"The application proposal is found to be generally consistent with the requirements of the NPPF, Local Plan Policies and Neighbourhood Plan Policy TC1 in respect of retail impact.

"Given the above, we conclude that the refusal of planning permission for this application proposal would not be supported on retail and town centre planning policy grounds alone."