Cut-price supermarket to open third Blackpool store

It will be the third Lidl in town and is due to open next Autumn the 640th in its campaign to reach 1,500 in coming years.

The company said it will be a a sustainable 1,424m² store with a modern glass-fronted façade.

The building reduces the CO2emission rate by over 20 per cent when compared with a building of the same type, size and use – 40 tons of CO2a year, which is equivalent to flying a jumbo jet over 700 miles.

It said the fully glass-fronted façade maximises natural daylight entering the building, whilst sensor controlled sun blinds automatically operate when the sun is too hot.

Westgate House used to be home to around 240 council workers from 15 departments including accounts, emergency planning, health and safety, ICT and licensing.

Bulldozers moved in on August 26 2011 to flatten the building as the departments were transferred to other sites including at Talbot Gateway.

Lidl UK’s regional head of property, Stuart Jardine, said: “We could not be more delighted to have received planning permission, and look forward to getting started on construction.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the local community for their continued support, and very much look forward to opening our doors and offering our fresh, quality, great value products in the not too distant future.”

He added that the supermarket will have an in-store bakery, longer-style tills with dual packing facilities, self-scan checkouts, customer toilets, baby changing facilities and ample parking.