Express & Star

House to go so Wolverhampton Lidl store can expand

A Victorian house will be demolished by the end of the year to make way for the controversial expansion of a supermarket. it was revealed today.

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Lidl was given permission to go ahead with a controversial expansion at one of its Wolverhampton stores after a two-year fight, despite the plans causing outrage among the community.

A public inquiry was held in May after Lidl appealed the refusal of planning permission for a 25 per cent expansion of its Finchfield store.

The move would see the demolition of a Victorian house next door, owned by Lidl. Wolverhampton City Council chiefs blocked the company's right to bulldoze the house, saying it was part of the area's history.

But the Planning Inspectorate granted the appeal, meaning the work can go ahead.

The distinctive green-coloured house has a stone above the door with the date 1879 and is named Fern Place.

Liz Millman, chairman of Finchfield Community Association, said: "It's sad that another part of our heritage is going down the pan.

"I don't think Lidl need the extra space to expand – surely they could just use the space they have more efficiently.

"We were really disappointed when the planning inspectorate made its decision . There was clear local concern and the city council turned it down but these views have been completely overturned by an outside body.

"It is another bit of our heritage that is being taken away.

"We need history in our communities and it is unfortunate that it appears this building has been allowed to fall into disrepair."

She said the community association had decided not to continue its campaign against the development as there was 'not much more that can be done'.

Lidl spokeswoman Georgina O'Donnell said: "We don't have a date yet, but plan to do the demolition before Christmas."

The controversy over the expansion is the latest saga for the store.

In 2009 contractors were allowed to continue building work on the shop despite it being 24 inches higher than it had been granted permission for.

And workers had to resurface and repaint a new road layout outside the store after it was branded 'sub-standard' by the council.

Bosses have also made three unsuccessful attempts to extend opening hours while three applications to blank out the windows of its Fallings Park store were also refused.

The plans to extend the supermarket were first unveiled in 2011 and sparked anger among residents.

When planning permission was refused campaigners thought they had won their two-year battle.

But just weeks later an appeal was submitted.

In granting the appeal, planning inspector Elaine Benson said: "The job creation and other economic benefits of the development and the acceptability of the proposed design of the extension outweigh the heritage interest of the existing building and the need to safeguard it."

She added the site had 'no special significance above other buildings of a similar age' in the area.

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