THE construction of a new Lidl store in Bradford is now well underway and is tipped to open in summer. 

The supermarket, on Harrogate Road, Eccleshill, will be the chain’s latest addition to the district. 

It forms part of a wider site, which will also include Starbucks and a Greggs.

The multi-million pound development, on the former Union Mills site, was given the go-ahead by planners back in December 2017. 

A Lidl spokesperson said: “We are delighted to confirm that construction of our new Lidl store on Harrogate Road, Eccleshill is now underway which is set to open this summer. 

“Once opened, the store will create around 40 new full and part time jobs for the local economy and mark a multi-million pound investment in Bradford. We look forward to updating the community further in due course and to delivering our fresh, quality and affordable produce to residents.”

More Lidl supermarkets are expected to open in the district, including one in Shipley.

An application for the store, plus a drive-thru Costa, was approved in November last year. 

The plans also included the groundwork for ‘’Stage 2’ which could see another two stores built on the site - which will be known as Shipley Wharf Retail Park.

The site is the former home of Cardinal, a Bradford-based commercial interiors company that moved from the location in 2016. The company’s buildings and warehouses were demolished shortly after.

Pedestrian access from the town centre, as well as a public garden area, will also be included in the retail park’s layout. And the development will see improvements made to the walkway along the River Aire, which runs behind the site.

The scheme had been criticised by Shipley Town Council, which feared the development would draw shoppers out of the town centre. But the application claimed the retail park would “help improve consumer choice in the area, bring back into active use a previously developed site, and support a greater number of jobs than the previous use of the site”.

A planning report said: “The scheme provides a retail scheme on previously developed land. The scale, form, layout and design of the proposal are acceptable and present no concerns with regard to residential amenity and highway safety. The proposal is considered acceptable.”

The German-owned retailer has rapidly expanded their number of branches in recent years, and the company shows no signs of slowing down in the coming years. 

Last year, details emerged of where the supermarket chain was seeking freehold, leasehold or long leasehold opportunities. The ideal site was described as either in town or out of town, with a main road frontage, easy access and strong pedestrian or traffic flow.

The sites in our area included:  Bradford city centre; Frizinghall; Girlington (Relocation); Queensbury;  Bradford South (Relocation); Cleckheaton; Guiseley; Horsforth; Pudsey; Yeadon; Otley; Shipley and Skipton.

These areas don’t represent confirmed new store locations, but represent a rough idea of where the chain is hoping to expand across the country.