SOUTH Croydon could be set to get a FOURTH supermarket in the space of a mile on the same stretch of Brighton Road – with Lidl planning a new store.
The German chain has gone public with its aim just six months after its last proposal in the borough, at the former Good Companions pub site, in Sanderstead, was rejected unanimously by Croydon Council.
Its new proposed site is a vacant plot at 375-401 Brighton Road, where it intends to demolish the existing buildings and construct a new food store, car park and 40 flats.
A Lidl spokesmanperson said:
"Located between Croydon and Purley, this site targets a new catchment area which is not covered by existing stores.
"We feel that a new Lidl store in this location will be well received by the local residents in the community, plus the provision of housing above not only delivers a comprehensive redevelopment of this brownfield site but also helps contribute towards the council's housing targets."
Lidl has sent letters to some of Brighton Road's business owners and residents inviting them to a public meeting on Wednesday, April 23.
If Lidl is successful, it could become the fourth supermarket to open on this stretch of Brighton Road in two years.
Opened
Morrisons opened its premises, which used to be the Red Deer pub, this February, while Tesco cut the ribbon on its store, formerly the Swan and Sugar-Loaf pub, in November 2012.
And a spokesmanperson for Sainsbury's said it hopes to submit an application in the next two months for a proposed store where the Bottoms Up off-licence currently stands.
Some residents have argued the area simply does not doesn't need any more supermarkets.
Charlotte Philpott, 18, said: "There are already too many supermarkets on this road.
"The road is not long, we don't need any more.
"If they are going to put the supermarket anywhere, they should put it in Coulsdon, where there aren't any others."
David Relf, 34, who works at The Plumbers Mait, in Brighton Road, said: "There is not a call for another big supermarket on this road.
"I don't think it needs it, to be honest. I wouldn't use it myself."
Yunus Tezgel, 20, who works at Elly's Cafe in Brighton Road, said: "At one end of the road is Morrisons, at the other end is Tesco. In the middle there will be a lot of competition.
"I used to go the Lidl in Wallington, where I live, but if there is one right here, I will use that. I can just go in after work."
Independent shop owners in the street are worried about the impact another big supermarket will have on their already declining trade.The public meeting will take place at St Giles' Primary School, in South Croydon, from 5pm to 8pm.
