Construction work to create a new, larger and sustainably focused Lidl Norther Ireland supermarket at Stewartstown Road in West Belfast got under way today, spearheading a significant investment and jobs boost for the local area.
Lidl Northern Ireland, the region’s fastest -growing supermarket retailer, received planning approval last year from Belfast City Council following an extensive public, consultation to replace the existing store and add more space as part of a new, bright and modern design that promotes sustainability and an enhanced customer shopping experience.
The existing store will remain open to customers as initial building works progress to extend to the rear of the site. The final phase of works will see the store temporarily close in early August to facilitate the demolition and rebuild of the new, state-of-the-art store. Local shoppers will be warmly accommodated at the nearby Lidl Anderstown Road store during the temporary closure, with customers notified in advance.
The major local investment will add 20 new jobs to Lidl Norther Ireland’s established local team of 20 in West Belfast when it opens later this year, with over 100 construction jobs supported during the new build phase.
Welcoming the start of construction work at Stewartstown Road, Lidl Northern Ireland’s Regional Managing Director Ivan Ryan said:
“Our Stewartstown Road store was one of the first to open in the region so it’s only fitting that, in our milestone 25th anniversary year, we’re progressing construction of a modern new store for our valued local customers.
Located next to a busy retail complex and serving a thriving community, the store’s transformation will positively impact the area, with new landscaped pathways providing improved accessibility to the store as well as a modern shopping experience that brings real choice and value to shoppers every day.
As we break ground on the new store, we are working closely with our contractor to carefully plan construction to best meet the needs of the local community, ensuring that the existing Stewartstown Road can remain open for as long as possible as works progress.
This is a highly anticipated project and we have liaised extensively with local representatives and the wider community to realise this significant investment. When completed, the new Stewartstown Road store will represent an outstanding addition to the local area, and we look forward to unveiling the new-look store later this year.”
The new store will include a larger sales area of 1670 sq.m with 150 parking spaces including six dedicated accessible bays and six parent and child bays. In line with Lidl Northern Ireland’s newest stores, Stewartstown Road will also feature an in-house bakery, wider aisles and longer, more spacious checkout areas, customers bathroom and employee welfare facilities.
When opened, the Stewartstown store will also be one of the most sustainable in the region, with LED lighting, heat pupms and PV solar panels reducing carbon emissions and will include an onsite pollinator garden encouraging biodiversity.
Committed to the area, Lidl Northern Ireland has for many years made significant investments in a variety of community initiatives and in facilities designed to further participation in sport, promoting health and wellbeing for people of all ages.
Welcoming the investment, Edwin Poots MLA said:
“We welcome the news that Lidl are investing in a new replacement store which will benefit the entire community.”
Local Sinn Fein councillor Seanna Walsh said:
“We warmly welcome Lidl Northern Ireland’s commitment to the Stewartstown Road area and community. Delivering greater choice and value, new jobs and greater economic activity, this new store will help to enhance our focus on regeneration and sustainability, and we are thrilled that Lidl’s longstanding commitment to strengthening the community relationships will deliver transformational rewards for everyone.”
This latest construction start marks an expansion milestone for Lidl Northern Ireland in the Greater Belfast area. In February, it started work on its first store in South Belfast at Boucher Road., adding to its existing Belfast city-wide network which includes Castlereagh Road, Crumlin Road, Holywood Exchange and Connswater. It also has stores on Shore Road and in Dundonald.
Lidl Northern Ireland, which employs a team of more than 1,300, recently announced a £3million extra investment in pay rises which took effect on 1 March, making it the highest-paying supermarket in the region. I has invested £6 million in pay rises for employees benefitting from a 13.5 percent increase since February 2023.
Northern Ireland’s fastest-growing supermarket is marking 25 years of growth in the region this year, with several new stores in the pipeline and a growing network of local suppliers.
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