Lidl Northern Ireland gets green light for brand new store in Newcastle

Lidl Northern Ireland has been given the green light to proceed with plans to develop a new state-of-the-art store in Newcastle, County Down.

Following a recent recommendation for approval by officers at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, its Planning Committee has voted in favour of its outline plans for the new development.

The new store, which will be located at Shan Slieve Drive and Bryansford Road, at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, will also provide the Mourne Mourne Mountain Rescue Team the space it needs to develop a new facility, futureproofing the organisation’s future plans and its ability to continue providing a lifesaving service.

Welcoming the Planning Committee’s decision, Lidl’s Regional Director, Conor Boyle, said:

“As the fastest growing retailer in Northern Ireland Lidl has for years been looking for a new site in Newcastle to meet our ever growing customer numbers.

“Newcastle is a vibrant town offering significant growth potential and we have invested heavily in engaging with local residents and representatives on our ambitions and are delighted that our plans have been formally approved.

“As an important next step, we will continue to work alongside our specialist teams before lodging the final design plans.

“We would like to wholeheartedly thank members of the local community for their positive and constructive engagement so far during this process and we would like to reassure them again of our ongoing commitment to delivering an outstanding new shopping experience for the town.”

Mourne MRT is a voluntary organisation made up of members of the local community and the team coordinated 52 rescues last year alone, making them the busiest team in Northern Ireland.

Speaking after the committee vote, Dave Goddard from Mourne MRT said:

“As part of our 50th anniversary celebrations back in 2012, we announced our intention to seek a new base for Mourne MRT to operate from. We are hugely excited about the opportunity this new site affords us to futureproof our lifesaving services. This new base will give us the chance to lower our running costs and increase our capabilities to train more people from the local area who want to join the team. Like Lidl, we are very grateful to the local community for their incredible level of support and look forward to the benefits our new base will bring to the area.”

With 38 stores and ambitions to expand further, Lidl Northern Ireland is officially the region’s fastest growing supermarket.