Discount supermarket Lidl is an unlikely disruptor of the housing market – but could it become a creative force?
The retailer is putting in a school above a new store in Richmond, west London, and claims it could build 3,000 homes in London alone as part of planning permissions for outlets.
The German company says it is increasingly getting involved in mixed-use schemes, and has already supported the creation of 811 new homes: 335 are already build, and a further 476 are in the pipeline.
Lidls chief executive Christian Hartnagel said it is “proud” of its record.
He told Sky News: “To date, our stores have supported the creation of over 800 homes, which have either been built, or are soon to be built, and we’re entirely open to exploring opportunities to help facilitate further developments.
“In London alone, for example, there is the potential for Lidl stores to be part of schemes that could see over 3,000 new homes being built over the next three years.
“It continues to mean a great deal to us that we are able to support many of the communities that we’re a part of by providing added value above and beyond affordable food.”
Lidl has not, so far as we know, announced plans to stock homes for sale in its outlets – but maybe we shouldn’t forget that Tesco once did.
If more houses are needed than present developers are able to construct and supply to the market, what could be wrong with that – subject to adequate and reliable planning constraints of course.
It may be a question of ‘Every Lidl Helps’ (?)
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There is huge common sense in using the large flat areas that their shops take up, with dead roof space and lets face it is is normally in town/city centres with public transport outside the door. The question is whether they own the land or just taking the head lease. This could be huge especially with the building momentum behind build to let.
I’ve invested heavily in a company NewRiver Retail that has been doing this for a while, starting by buying pubs and turning the dead ones into community CO-OP’s and building some housing and on occasion creating a small pub for the community.This type of joined up thinking is good and will catch on further with publicity being created by the likes of Lidl.
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Depends on what type of housing. Many people wouldn’t like to live in high rise blocks because they wouldn’t like the Alditude.
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This makes sense to me….. The German model is the end desired by all the main political hues. If more that half of the residential stock is owned by institutions, the boom and crash property value roller-coaster will be damped down. Only build to let will provide the housing we need without completely undermining value for the owner occupier. I would be staggered if Lidl sell any of the stock they are building…… just a great way of rolling profit into assets in a tax efficient way? Another example of their progressive and agile corporate perspective.
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Yes, there will certainly have to be changes to the way the housing markets up and down England and Wales operate for them to successfully provide the property which people will need.
I have additional ideas on this but nevertheless I do support this initiative.
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Anything that might give your ‘cunning plan’ anything other than a rat’s chance in a flooded sewer eh, Mr Hendry?
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Perhaps they could teach a certain property portal a thing or two about pricing and customer relations relating to pricing.
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Hang on, a school above a shop? I see a few small flaws..
1) have they been anywhere near a school at drop-off and collection time? It’s a mine-field of parking, bad driving, “ooh, I think my car can fit” issues. Don’t expect many customers around those times, there won’t be space!
2) I think most schools have fields/outdoor sports areas? How are they planning for PE lessons and sports days, especially as they will need to be in secure areas that the GenPop can’t access or see into?
3) security/safety in general. My kids school has three sets of gates, a specified area outside each class for parents to wait to drop off and collect the children. As many who have young children where I am seem to have younger siblings floating around, this is good as it means you don’t have to tether them to your leg. You’ve got a cats chance of me letting go of CountryBaby at the supermarket!
On the plus side, fresh cheap fruit/snacks for the children, fresh ingredients to use in food tech (do they still do cooking lessons?). Plus it is a way to upgrade the infrastructure of an area without using green/brown belt land.
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With Section 106 already an accepted principle in planning, it makes you wonder why ALL building of commercial premises utilising land as a scarce commodity doesn’t provide for multiple storey use and partnership with housing provision.
That said, hats off to lidl anyhow.
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