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Lidl decision deferred at packed meeting

Daniel HodgsonLocal Democracy Reporting Service
News imageDaniel Hodgson Twenty-one people are standing on the street, Kingston Avenue, and are looking at the camera. They are wearing coats of varying colour and some are squinting from the sun. They are positioned around the street name sign on a brick wall, in front of two semi-detached houses.Daniel Hodgson
Linthorpe residents opposed the proposed road closure for the store

Councillors have deferred making a decision on a new Lidl store, over proposals to close a nearby road for traffic management.

The proposed Middlesbrough store, where the now demolished Northern School of Art used to be, was debated in front of a packed public gallery on Thursday.

Members of the town's planning committee were unhappy about plans to close Thackeray Grove and wanted a "satisfactory" alternative to be achieved.

Lidl's planning agent spoke of the potential multi-million pound investment in Linthorpe, creating new jobs and making use of a brownfield site.

The heated debate lasted more than 75 minutes, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

A majority of the letters received, as part of the consultation process, were in support of the store.

Members had been recommended by council officers to accept the plans for the Lidl-owned site on the corner of Green Lane and Roman Road.

News imageDaniel Hodgson A grassy field is bordered by a metal fence in the foreground and semi-detached houses in the background. It is is grey metal fence with a green piece of fabric pulled over it.Daniel Hodgson
The proposed location is on the former Northern School of Art site

Simon Thompson, from the Labour-led council's highways department, said if plans were approved, Thackeray would be shut at the point where it meets Green Lane, with a "three-arm signal controlled junction" on the remaining Green Lane and Roman Road.

Ian Morrish of the Middlesbrough Independent Councillors Association (MICA) queried whether signalisation of the staggered junction would negate the need to close off Thackeray Grove.

Thompson said the "more arms" put into a signalised junction, the more delays there are.

He said Roman Road and Thackeray Grove would not be able to run at the same time, meaning "much more delay, much more frustration", and longer waits for pedestrians.

Residents previously voiced safety concerns about the closure of Thackeray, specifically the impact it would have on Walton Avenue and Kingston Avenue.

News imageLidl GB The long two-storey brick building has a grey roof and a yellow and blue sign above the door which reads: Lidl. There is a carpark out front, which is dotted with trees, and a road in the foreground. There are people and cars dotted around the scene.Lidl GB
Lidl said it would make use of a vacant brownfield site (artist's impression)

Labour councillor Julia Rostron proposed a deferral of plans until "further consideration" was given to the proposal to close Thackeray Grove, to look for an "alternative" that was "satisfactory to both the council and the residents".

Plans to defer were unanimously agreed by the planning committee.

Previous applications by Lidl were rejected in 2023 and 2024.

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