Lidl GB is set to begin construction of its first-ever store in Kirkby on Telegraph Way. The discounter is transforming the former Telepgraph Way car park site to answer significant local demand for more retail choice in the town, with the new location set to save many residents the current commute out to the Maghull and Fazakerley stores.
From Monday 1 June, pedestrian diversions will be put in place and anyone currently using the site to park will be directed to the adjacent multi storey car park that has recently undergone a significant refurbishment and offers hundreds of free parking spaces including disabled bays and electric charging points or to the Kirkby Town Centre short stay car park adjacent to the site.
Marking the second phase of Knowsley Council’s retail town centre regeneration, the development sits next to the recently completed first phase consisting of a 94,000 sq ft fully occupied retail development and it will provide the community with much needed access to Lidl GB’s range of great value products.
Delivering a significant boost for the local economy, the new Lidl store represents a multi-million-pound investment. Once opened, the supermarket will create around 40 new jobs for the community, with additional employment generated by a second 5,100 sq ft retail unit also being built on the plot. Lidl colleagues are among the highest paid in the industry, with entry-level hourly pay of £13.45 nationally.
The new store will feature a spacious sales area of 1,516m2, complete with the discounter’s fan-favourite in-store bakery, customer toilets with baby changing facilities, and the iconic Middle of Lidl aisle. Anticipating community needs and effectively managing local parking, shoppers will have access to six accessible bays and nine parent and child spaces close to the entrance, alongside the rest of the Kirkby Town Centre car park and the adjacent Kirkby multi-storey car park. Carrying the store into the future, the roof will have solar panels to help capture sustainable energy for the store, complemented by new tree and shrub planting across the site.
Stuart Jardine, Regional Head of Property at Lidl GB, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to break ground in Kirkby. The area has long been a top priority location for Lidl and we know that like us, residents have eagerly awaited this moment. The new store will greatly enhance the offer to shoppers here delivering not just great value at low prices but also new jobs, all while removing the added cost of having to travel out of town. We look forward to keeping the community updated as construction progresses”.
Cllr Tony Brennan, Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, added: “I’m delighted to see work commencing on this new offer in Kirkby town centre. We know from the feedback we’ve received from our residents and visitors to the town that they want more choice. We have listened and we have progressed with the second phase of modern retail in the town centre. I’m really looking forward to see this new build get underway.”
Just as the ground works get underway, Lidl is looking to help build healthy habits in Kirkby. The retailer is inviting nearby schools to join the Lidl Foodies programme. This free initiative aims to support the next generation to develop a love for healthy eating, with a focus on fresh fruit and veg. Local teachers will be able to access ready-made workshop plans throughout the year by visiting the National Schools Partnership website.
Teachers interested in registering for the Lidl Foodies Programme can do so via Lidl’s website: https://www.lidl.co.uk/c/lidl-foodies/s10065631