Lidl Blackburn
Lidl Blackburn
Commercial Project
CLIENT NAME Lidl UK
SCHEME NAME Furthergate, Blackburn
VALUE £2.7m
START Feb 2020
COMPLETION September 2020
PARTNERS One Design Architects and Engineers
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS Following the demolition of a former commercial vehicle repair facility we constructed a new retail store with associated offices and extensive staff and customer parking. The new steel framed building was metal clad to the front.
TESTIMONIAL
Lidl GB regional head of property Nick Harvey said: “We would like to thank Hargreaves Contracting and all those who have played a part in bringing this new Lidl store to Blackburn. It is great for us to be able to create more jobs and investment opportunities in the area and turn this previous site into a much-needed superstore serving local customers.”
BRIEF
To create a brand-new superstore on an existing Brownfield site of Fix Auto, Blackburn. The store has a 1,256m² sales area and will feature facilities such as an in-store bakery, longer-style tills, customer toilets, baby changing and ample parking for both cars and bicycles.
SOCIAL VALUE
In addition to well over 100 construction jobs created during the construction, the store provided 40 employment opportunities in this socially and economically challenged area of Blackburn. Managers also say that the new store will be providing surplus food and customer donations to Auxilium Housing, who provide 24-hour support for individuals affected by homelessness and provide them with a meal, and Shine Charity who in partnership with Star Academies help provide everyday essentials to vulnerable families and healthcare providers.
CHALLENGE
The biggest single challenge was the Covid lock down which came into force almost as soon as we started work on the site causing severe material and labour shortages.
ACTION
Social distancing, RAMS, extensive and effective Covid protection measures and early supply chain payments enabled us to deliver the store on programme to the original planned delivery date.
OUTCOME
This was the only store throughout the UK that Lidl managed to open as planned during the pandemic creating on time sales generation and profitability for Lidl Group.
