As revealed on wilmslow.co.uk last week, a discount retailer is planning to demolish a local gym so they can replace it will a new larger store.
Lidl have now confirmed their plans to replace the existing store at Summerfields Village Centre with a new store on the adjacent land, currently occupied by the energi Fitness Club.
The company has agreed a deal to purchase the property currently occupied by energi from Emersons, which will be demolished to build a new store which is nearly 50% bigger, if planning permission is approved.
Lidl UK's Regional Head of Property, Stuart Jardine, commented: "Our current Wilmslow store is extremely popular but is no longer able to meet the needs of our customers. An opportunity has arisen to purchase the property currently occupied by the Energie Fitness Club, which means that we can improve our retail offering in Wilmslow."
Stuart Jardine added: "A new, more modern store will allow us to stock a wider range of products and improve the shopping experience for our customers. The proposed new store is only metres away from the current store, which will result in a smooth transition for our regular customers."
Lidl submitted a planning application to Cheshire East Council on Friday, 23rd June, for a 1655m2 store and if planning permission is granted they say the new store could create up to 20 additional jobs for local people.
All existing employees will transfer to the new store which will include an in-store bakery, longer-style tills with dual packing facilities, customer toilets and more parking.
The existing 1,112m2 store will continue to trade until the new store is open, which is expected to be in early 2019 should the plans be approved, after which the plans indicate it will be demolished to create additional parking spaces for the new store.
The public are invited to view the plans in the current Wilmslow store, from 3rd July.
Some local residents are getting together to fight Lidl's plans to build a larger store saying it will be closer to more homes and result in noise and light pollution, loss of privacy and loss of greenery.
In response to the proposals campaigners are calling on Cheshire East Council to protect the trees on the current energie site, which they say currently shields the existing Lidl from their homes, by placing Tree Preservation Orders (TPO) on them.
Martin Kitchin said "The trees are an asset to the area, a perfect oasis amongst all the brick and tarmac. They have taken years to establish after they were first planted by Emersons. There's a nice mix there. They include Silver Birch which match those on our Jones Homes estate.
"Regardless of the season they are all majestic and beautiful in their own right. They provide residents with privacy (which will be even more needed if a big supermarket is allowed to be built next door to homes) and a natural habitat for birds which is wonderful. We can hear the birds over there now.
"Over the years the energie trees have merged with the shrubs maintained by Emerson on our side of the boundary."
Local resident Paul Roue said "The wildlife which has made its habitat in this area is numerous and varied. It would be such a shame to see it all go. The greenery which enhances this area is much needed and if it was able to be saved then that would make such a difference.
"I have been fortunate to see the redwings in the area and it would be a shame to see them disappear as they are such a rare bird."
Councilllor Barry Burkhill, who represents Handforth, is a member of the Strategic Planning Board, so, given this application is likely to go before the board, he cannot pass any comment on this proposed application
However, he told wilmslow.co.uk " Having said that, I can advise residents and ask for reports so long as I do not pre-judge any application before it comes to committee. I have asked our arboricultural officers to urgently assess the impact of this proposed development on the amenity trees and maturing woodland, which protect the residential area and form a natural habitat for wildlife."
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
The 'alleged' additional Lidl jobs are offset by the loss of leisure/reception/hair salon/osteopathy-physiotherapy/nail bar staff etc
The Leisure Club is a hub for fitness - swimming/weights/zumba/pilates etc and is a vibrant social meeting point.
When fitness is foremost in peoples minds 2017, a proposal is put forward to 'snuff' out a centre that ticks all the health boxes.
The Council should consider a relocation package, whereby the deal could be approved subject to the provision of Leisure facilities on land/site nearby.
IF Lidl are successful in getting planning then of course the Energie Gym will be sadly missed by everyone.
Not only by its loyal members but also by neighbours here in the surrounding homes. And what wonderful considerate neighbours Energie have proven to be too.
The gym is staffed by warm people who care, where finess matters. It stands in well maintained lovely mature grounds that blend in perfectly with the homes.
Energie might be classed as 'commercial premises' but as previously stated, as a membership club wthey're as quiet as mice. Commercial retail suoermarket they are not and that's the rub.
But its it's far from over....
As soon as the plans are submitted to Cheshire East by Lidl we will ALL have the chance to comment and influence the outcomes.
So, let's do it and hope that common sense prevails for once....
(1) Lidl stay in a shopping parade in a commercial retail space and not in the middle of homes.
(2) Energie continues to lift many more dumb bells to come in the future.
about the loss of jobs at the gym?
The sphere of impact of the loss of this lovely business will grow as more people realise the implications.
I do hope people totally, totally understand this move and dont apply too much pressure on the owners and staff of energie, just let them get on with their job, they know what to do, and its obvious they'll just continue to do what they do so well for them and their members during the planning application process. Carry on and plan, business as usual.
I wish them good luck.
Pete's mob wouldn't be flogging the site if he could milk it for more so I suspect he knows something Lidl doesn't. And surprising he is flogging a rent paying site not one of his many empty ones. As for the economics - who says the gym is not a viable business? Lidl is hoping to be a more viable business which certainly won't last when Aldi hit town. Punters from outside Wilmslow at Lidl!! Having dinner in the local pub!! Stand up stuff. They have their own Lidl and Aldis to visit. Even the locals hardly use the local pub and never have. Perhaps the better choice is to knock down the boozer for parking and allow Lidl to build on the existing carpark. I am sure Pete can get round the condition requiring the pub on the site. And while we are at it get shut of that inappropriate car dealer and free up the parking.
The gym is actually very successful and an asset to the local community - the local community at Summerfields - which has no bank, no post office, no doctors, no dentist and only 1 bus route and soon to have no gym. But it will soon have a very large Lidl, which if it attracts people from outside the area will add to the congestion on Dean Row Road with the traffic backed up to join the A34 and backed up at the roundabout by the Unicorn - and that is before Taylor Wimpey get their way and build another 175 very close to this site - with all the traffic which it will generate, and before East Cheshire NHS reorganises its services and switches obstetrics and midwifery to Colshaw Farm.
Now I appreciate that from the point of view of Lidl - more houses, more people = more profit, But that is not, and cannot be, the overriding factor for the granting of planning permission for what is an "out of town" shopping area.
Finally, if it does get permission - then the whole of the car park will need doing - not just this section. Narrow bays, a road through it which can't take 2 cars passing at the same time in places, car parking spaces permanently occupied by cars for the garage. Whoever designed that car park should hang their head in shame.
I take it that someone who commented above doesn't live on the doorstep. Why would you accept that having the larger supermarket in your front garden is better? No, there are not plans to plant any trees, they are all being uprooted and not replaced. That's why we are fighting for tree protection orders. We can then at least hide the warehouse being built next to our homes.
I'm all for business,but isn't it better to not put a supermarket in the middle of housing.
Yes of course profits are important....it's what makes the economy tick but a balance has to be struck surely?
As Simon says, the store should not be at the expense of noise,, loss of existing jobs at the gym, disturbance to neighbours and the opportunities for a healthier and fitter world..
A careful look at the Lidk plans will show how close the new store will be to existing hones. Siimply wrong
Regardless if how much extra product lines Lidl can get in to a new store, how many more varieties of cheese and chocolate, it's just not worth it When you cinsuder the wider imosct on gyn members and residents .
We uge everybody to provide Cheshire East Planning with your comments as soon as the reference number is known.
Simon, did you read my post properly? I never mentioned that because all business men know that to be factual and have to abide. However after all that is done, if you run at a loss you close. Ps it's also illegal to run a business you know is losing money but that a different story. If the rent went up and the gym was so viable, the owner would pay it. But he has obviously worked out he can't make money, so the adult and moral thing to do is move on. And as you want to shut everything else up there, what would you like in its place? Greengrocer, fish monger?
That brings me onto Jackie. There's a reason all those businesses are not up there, because nobody used them and they shut! Revolution in wilmslow won't shut because it's rammed every weekend. I.e. Makes money.
Martin, Lidl aren't shutting the gym, the owner of the gym is. I would guess if he was making say a million pound a year, this would not be happening. Again, business exists to make money (yes Simon after regulations etc) but regardless all the fluffy stuff business comes out and says, it's about the £.
Neighbours, things change over time. Look at the a34 widening. Can't buy a house next to it then moan when it grows! We should be happy the unit is staying full. Look at wilmslow centre. It's either empty, a coffee shop or a charity shop.
Be careful what you wish for people!
Lidl now own the freehold and are effectively the landlord. They have shown they wish to activate the break clause in the lease to remove the gym from the site - if they get the planning permission.
Realistically if the new landlord (Lidl) puts the gym (Energie) under the bulldozer and reduces it to ash, then what option do the have but to shut it !?.
The gym unit isn't as you say 'staying full'.
IF Lidl get planning permission to buikd this huge store enbedded by homes on three sidss the present unit is being demolished with an ensuing loss of
- Jobs
- Privacy
- Peace.
- A much loved lesure facility..
That Mark, is the rub for everybody.
I use Tesco Handforth Dean for my big weekly shop and Sainsburys for 'top up' items during the week. In both stores (again after 14 years) I have never experienced anything but friendliness and helpfulness from all the staff. I use Waitrose very rarely as find it too expensive. I have tried Lidl but I find the range of goods very restricted. I do not personally feel the need of any more grocery stores in Wilmslow.
On another article on this site, someone is claiming that the gym were still recently subletting units and allowing these subletting people spend thousands fitting them out even though they knew this was going on. The commenter blames Lidl for this, but, if true, it seems dubious behavior on the part of the gym. Or did the subletters know and do it anyway? Again, hardly Lidl's fault.
And please please, whatever you build, can we at least have a cash machine to replace the one we lost when Tesco took over one-stop- a really obvious miss in this shopping area.
There's already a lot of conjecture * in the comments here.
I 'think' at one time ( and it's just that a thought) that Lidl did consider moving their current side storage area (behind the wine and dairy) upstairs above the current store.
This was discounted sadly as it didn't free them up enough retail space.
Pity that isn't it as it would have meant:
(a) minimal disturbance for residents.
(b) Energie would have been left untouched for all its members to continue enjoying.
Of conjecture * we still cannot fathom out why on 27th June that Pete Taylor thought above that the BMW Mini garage was 'out of place' ?
Still no time to ponder on that ! Let's focus efforts on what we can ALL do to keep Energie running.
As soon as Cheshire East register the Lidl planning application for the Energie site, the reference number will be published and we can ALL have a say on its pros and cons.
(1) residents who could have the bigger store in their back gardens.
(2) gym members who lose their gym.
(3) those losing their jobs and livelihoods at Energie...
And that's the issue really we ALL need to make when the Lidl application is registered at CE
But as for the current Lidl store being "poorly stocked" that's not really fair to say that
Staff work on late after closing times to restock.
Even the management team help out as well.
Worrying to read potentially libellous speculation about the state of the gym business. Not at all helpful if based on hearsay and not facts.
What will be , will be.
As soon as it gets to Cheshire East Planning it'll get a planning reference.
This means that everybody will get the chance to register their concerns formally.
See my comment above on 28 June 2000hrs
If you want to arrange a petiituin to send to Cheshire East that seems good idea.
Im sure that the Village Mews Residents that surround the gyn (and are also members,) will be pleassed to see it.
Thanks,
Martin
Frankly; I could not comment.
Are you
(a) a resident of the homes which are currently next to Energie through their expansive greenery
or
(b) are you a gym user?
As soon as the plans are registered with Cheshire East and we know the planning reference, I'll make sure it's publicised.
This will mean that everybody will be able to comment on the proposals either as a resident, a Lidl shopper, a gym user or even all three.
What's gratifying is the amount of discussion the Lidl plans have initiated. As at this evening, the article is still the most discussed on the site.
Regards,
Martin Kitchin
Village Mews Residents
Still not got the Cheshire East planning reference but as soon as we do we will get it publicised
You will see that the Lidl plans have received an incredible amount of opposition. The article is still the most discussed on the Wilmslow.co website!
This is the opposition...
(1) A popular, much loved and good value leisure facility will bite the dust with the ensuing loss of many jobs and a raft of local businesses that operate within Energie
(2) Lidl will move away from an existing parade of shops to a stand alone store which is 50% bigger with homes cheeck by jowel on all three sides (and all the problems that goes with it)
(a) Noise
(b) Pollution
(c) Delivery trucks
(d) Many more cars and customers than Energie has
(e) Increased traffic on Dean Row when it's blocked now and is a hazard
(f) Waste
(g) Smells
(h) Loss of mature trees
(I) Loss of privacy
Village Mews Residents
As a gym user I would be v. sorry to see Energie and its various sublets disappear. We have little enough by way of 'keep fit' facilities that are accessible to a wide range of people and abilities in this area.
To build a superstore in a largely residential area is out of keeping with the community when there are already existing facilities.
In building more and more out of town superstores, Wilmslow and East Cheshire is creating its own problems by way of vacant shops, an increasing number of charity shops which is a downward trend in a town and a lack of a vibrant town centre e.g. Grove Street.
More advice including legal arguments with reference to East Cheshire planning policies in order to mount a coherent and successful approach to lodging a planning objection would be welcome.
There are 3 existing subscription gyms within 2 miles, inc the one approved for St Anne's Parade Wilmslow.
Thanks for the comments.
1. Prior Knowledge:
We've got evidence to the contrary that Energie 'may have accepted the Lidl proposed purchase'.
Check with their management of course but we understand that the first Energie knew was when told that Lidl had acquired the lease from Emerson and were effectively their new owners.
2. The Energie Benefit:
The benefit of Energie of course is that it's well served by the residents of Summerfields and is an easy walk (or jog) from most people's front doors.
Much healthier and better for the environment than trudging up the increasingly blocked up A34.
And unlike the gym at St Anne's Parade, if you have to drive there's free parking at Energie and shops and a bar to pop to on the way home !
3. Loss of Privacy:
As well as the loss of the gym, there's a risk that residents will also lose the shielding and privacy that the current Energie trees provides.
We took a 'tree inventory' today and you'd be arrived at how many wonderful trees Energie have in their gardens.
4. Planning Application:
The Cheshire East planning reference is about to go live.
We'll make sure it's publicised here for everyone, gym members and residents to comment on.
Watch this space . . .
Kind Regards,
Village Mews Residents and Gym Members.