Plans for new Lidl supermarket in Dereham given approval

The former Busseys car dealership site in Yaxham Road, Dereham, will be demolished to make way for a new Lidl store.

The proposals were taken back to the drawing board last summer after concerns were raised about congestion on the roads surrounding the site.

However, the revised plans have now been granted permission for development by Breckland Council. 

However, some councillors spoke strongly against the application and warned of the "cumulative impact" of increasing traffic in the area. 

Roger Atterwill, leader of the Independent and Green group on the council, said: "Most people will drive here because that is what people rely on in rural Breckland. It's a necessity.

"I have an issue with this and I'm not convinced that there won't be a significant impact on the highways. The situation in town is going to get worse and worse and this will add to it."

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Highways officials ruled that the development would not have a "severe" impact on the surrounding road network, but admitted that congestion would likely be worsened. 

Alison Webb, councillor for Dereham, said she has been "inundated" with concerns from local people who opposed the new store. 

The Busseys showroom in Dereham has closed and is set to be replaced by a Lidl supermarket (Image: Newsquest)

She added: "This will create extra traffic on a road which is always blocked up. I fully support businesses and projects in the town but we should not approve this without a huge investment in road infrastructure.

"Everyone knows what this road is like - and don't tell me that people are going to walk to this shop."

Lidl will close its current shop in Kingston Road when the new, bigger branch opens in Yaxham Road. 

Breckland councillors voted in favour of the development at a meeting on Monday.