Finally, a new foodstore in Upper High Street

News that Lidl's application for a new medium-sized foodstore in Upper High Street has been approved, brings towards an end a 15 year saga.The first of a long series of unsatisactory plans for a supermarket on the former Allams and Iceland sites in Upper High Street was put forward in 2002 and rejected in 2003.

Following lengthy manoevering, different plans for a large store were turned down in 2006 on a proposal from Lib Dem councillor Colin Taylor. There was general agreement that Epsom needed a new food store and that the Upper High Street site needed redevelopment and was the best location. The issue was the size, half being devoted to items other than food, creating more additional traffic than that part of Epsom could cope with.

Further applications for large stores followed and were also rejected. Eventually, following a proposal from Lib Dem councillor Julie Morris, a Planning Brief was issued which clarified that only a medium size food store was required. Ownership of the site changed and for some time it looked likely it would house a new Waitrose. Eventually this was shelved and Lidl brought forward the plans that have now been approved.

Meanwhile Aldi have been trying to get approval for a similar store just up the road at the busy Church Road junction on a site sceduled for housing. This has been refused but is now at appeal.