At least 40 jobs are to be created as plans have been submitted for the opening of a new, ultra eco-friendly Lidl supermarket in Medway Road, Gillingham. The discount food retailer hopes to build a new store on a vacant plot of land opposite Pier Road as part of a "multi-million pound investment" - while also confirming that they are already looking to open further stores in the Medway area. Artist's impression of the new Lidl store in Gillingham - © One Design Architects Subject to approval, the 1,068sqm supermarket will include an in-store bakery, customer toilets and a total of 98 parking spaces, including 6 disabled parking bays and a further 8 parent and child bays. Cycle parking will also be provided in the form of 10 cycle stands. The store has been designed to be ultra eco-friendly throughout, with a staggering 558 solar panels covering the roof generating an expected yield of 142,849kWh per year, in addition to the installation of LED lighting and the use of recycled materials for the floor inside. Although this will be Medway's very first Lidl store, the retailer has already confirmed that it has its eyes set on further expansion within the Medway area. The vacant site north of Medway Road in Gillingham - © Google Maps A statement in the planning application reveals that Lidl is "actively looking at other sites that meet their requirements in the Medway area" in addition to their proposed store in Gillingham "in line with their on-going expansion plans". Currently, the only Lidl stores located nearby are in Maidstone, Sittingbourne and Gravesend.
Discount food retailers have gained enormous popularity in the UK over the past few years, with the likes of Lidl and Aldi - both originally from Germany - reporting increasing market share in an even more diverse and challenging retail environment than ever before. There are three Aldi stores in the Medway area; located at Friary Place in Strood, Duncan Road, Gillingham and at Gillingham Business Park just off Bowaters Roundabout. A new Aldi store is currently being built at Horsted Retail Park in Chatham and is expected to open by spring 2020. First entering the UK market in 1994, Lidl has successfully opened over 700 stores throughout the UK. Its popularity with British consumers has been pinpointed to its business model of offering a limited range of goods that are primarily 'own label' brands with superior quality and value than traditional 'comparison' products. And when should we expect the Lidl store to open in Gillingham? Speaking to Future Chatham, Oliver Thomas, Corporate Communications Officer for Lidl, said: "Once a committee date has been set to review our proposals, we'll be in a better position to share timings regarding construction and opening." You may view the plans by clicking here or by searching the application reference MC/19/1875 on Medway Council's Planning Portal website. Movie goers are in for a treat as it has been confirmed that the opening of an all-new IMAX facility at the Odeon cinema at Chatham Dockside is just over a month away. Last month, Future Chatham revealed the news that Medway Council received a planning application from Odeon Cinemas Ltd seeking consent for the installation of an "illuminated sign with built-up 'IMAX' letters" - this pointing towards the possible introduction of IMAX technology at Chatham's only cinema. A typical IMAX cinema sign - © Visit Cardiff We now understand from KentOnline that IMAX will be officially opening at Chatham's Odeon cinema on Monday, 2 September this year. The IMAX facility will promise a "one-of-a-kind" movie going experience, featuring a 122-seat auditorium with reclining seats, retractable tables and triple the normal legroom space - as well as a Dolby Cinema screen measuring 8m high and 15m wide. Being one of only two cinemas serving the Medway Towns, with just a Cineworld located at Medway Valley Leisure Park in Rochester, the Odeon cinema at Chatham Dockside consists of 9 screens, showing both 2D and 3D films for all ages. The last major upgrade to the multiplex was around 2014 with the opening of an on-site Costa Coffee branch. "Bringing you a luxury Dolby Cinema screen with reclining seats for you to enjoy with more space and comfort..." General Manager at Chatham Odeon cinema, Natalie Fisher, said: "We are currently undergoing refurbishments to ensure we are providing you with the very best in cinema entertainment.
"Bringing you a luxury Dolby Cinema screen with reclining seats for you to enjoy with more space and comfort. Please bear with us whilst we make these exciting changes. In the meantime the doors are still open for you to enjoy the latest releases." The only Odeon IMAX cinemas located nearby are currently at Greewich and Wimbledon, both located in London, while Showcase have an IMAX facility at their Bluewater cinema. It has been announced that Medway Council is bidding for a share of a national £44 million fund to transform and revive a historic high street sandwiched between Rochester and Chatham. Medway Council is hoping to secure at least £1.6 million from the High Streets Heritage Action Zones scheme funded by Historic England, in order to support a £3.2 million heritage-led regeneration programme of an area historically known as 'Chatham Intra', which is located within the Star Hill to Sun Pier Conservation Area between Rochester and Chatham. The 'Chatham Intra' area between Rochester and Chatham - © Google Maps If Medway Council's bid is successful, and with the support from other partners, the proposed £3.2 million scheme could begin as early as spring 2020. It is hoped that the funding will go towards four initiatives, including:
However, the vision to regenerate an area infamously known for its problems with prostitution and street drinking - sometimes referred to as Medway's very own "red light district" - stretches back to over a decade ago. In 2004, Medway Council adopted a Planning & Design strategy for the Star Hill to Sun Pier Conservation Area, outlining the vision to create a mixed-use 'alternative quarter' that reinforces the area's historical identity and promotes the use of the waterfront. Since 2004, the area has seen some significant investment in the form of a joint £1.6 million grant between Medway Council and Heritage Lottery Fund to restore over 35 historic buildings. The area has also benefited from a developing a small restaurant/pub quarter, along with a handful of creative and cultural industries moving in to some of the riverside buildings. "This funding will help preserve the history and tell the story of the Chatham Intra area to create a Heritage Creative Quarter..." Commenting on the bid, Leader of Medway Council, Cllr Alan Jarrett, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to apply for funding to further invest in our high streets.
"We are committed to ensuring that our high streets continue to thrive and if successful, this funding will help preserve the history and tell the story of the Chatham Intra area to create a Heritage Creative Quarter. "The bid further supports our ambition for Chatham to become a leading waterfront university city centre by 2035.” Historic England are expected to announce which schemes will go forward to the second stage of bidding later this year during autumn 2019. Motorists are advised to expect potential disruption as SGN commence major gas works in the Wayfield Road area of Chatham. As part of their wider 30-year programme, SGN will be replacing the old metal pipe network with new plastic pipes to 'provide a safe and reliable gas supply' to the local area, with a minimum lifespan of at least 80 years ahead. New plastic pipes in a similar scheme completed by SGN - © North Edinburgh News The roadworks will begin on Monday, 15 July and it is hoped that the project should be complete within five weeks.
How will the roadworks affect you? SGN will be completing the gas works in a number of phased sections, as detailed below: Section 1 – Eden Avenue and Tedder Avenue, junctions with Wayfield Road
Section 2 – Barnfield and Wayfield Road
Section 3 – Roosevelt Avenue and Stalin Avenue, junctions with Wayfield Road
Signed diversions will be in place for motorists and pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the duration of the major gas works. Contractors WCB Utilities will be working on behalf of SGN to complete the pipe replacement project. |
Archive
August 2023
|