Hundreds back plans for new Lidl in Cheadle Heath, supermarket claims, weeks after councillors left fuming

Hundreds of residents have backed plans to open a new Lidl in Cheadle Heath, the supermarket has claimed. An online petition in support of the scheme has been signed by more than 400 people and is set to be considered by Stockport council’s Cheadle area committee later this month, according to the company.

The proposed new store includes a bakery in a 2,000 sqm building based at Cheadle Heath Works on Stockport Road near Roscoes Roundabout and the M60, with a total of 102 car parking spaces included in the development.

If approved it would deliver a multi-million-pound scheme in the area and create up to 40 new jobs. The planning application was due to be discussed at the Cheadle area committee in December but was delayed at the eleventh hour by the supermarket according to councillors.

Council officers recommended the application was rejected due to the design and potential loss of employment land, but Lidl submitted new information ahead of the meeting causing the decision to be pushed back.

Cheadle East and Cheadle Hulme North councillor David Meller said during the December meeting he was "really quite angry" about the move. "I don’t think it’s acceptable and I don’t think it sends a good message to my residents,” he added.

Coun Ian Hunter, chair of the Cheadle area committee, also said: “I echo your disappointment on this, this application has been in the system for a considerable amount of time, to submit these documents at the last minute puts a strain on the system and does show a lack of regard for the planning system.”

While hundreds have supported the plans, nearly 60 residents submitted objections to the council before the December meeting with concerns about an increase in traffic around the sliproad from