Work has started demolishing two large former industrial buildings on a 2.36 acre site on James Street in York, to make way for a brand new multi-million pound Lidl supermarket.
York-based development company S Harrison worked closely with site owner Perio News Limited to secure planning for the supermarket in October, and has awarded the construction contract to Leeds-based Castlehouse Construction. With over 40 years’ experience, Castlehouse has recently built two Lidl supermarkets in the North West and one in Knaresborough on Chain Lane, which opened this summer.
The newly completed store will create up to 40 jobs at Lidl UK. The supermarket also includes 130 parking spaces, with four bays for electric vehicle charging and an in-store bakery.
Following the demolition works, a seven month build programme will see the 21,054 sq ft supermarket open in summer 2019. It will be the second Lidl to open in the York area, with the first opening seven years ago on Thanet Road.
Andrew Wharton, from S Harrison, said: “Investment on this scale in this part of York is really positive news. The site has had many uses over the years including being a waste disposal site, a packaging factory and latterly a storage facility for television props, but the two large buildings had deteriorated and fallen into a state of disrepair. This exciting development will support economic sustainability and create jobs, as well as being a great place to shop.”
The new supermarket, which will back onto Foss Island Retail Park, will stock high quality products at low prices, as well as offering an in-store bakery.
S Harrison’s has a wealth of experience developing a wide range of retail schemes including the delivery of a £4.3m, 25,000 sq ft B&M retail unit in Catterick, a new 10,000 sq ft purpose-built premises and showroom for an electrical contractor and retailer at Monks Cross, and the creation of 9,000 sq ft of prime retail space on the ground floor of Hunter House just 120 metres from York Minster. One of the units is leased to Savers and one is currently available to let.
