Lidl plans could demolish Pizza Hut and Pets at Home in Bournemouth

The budget supermarket has drawn up plans to build an entirely new shop in Westover Retail Park in Castle Lane West at the junction with Wimborne Road. 

A decision granted could mean the existing shops there, including a Pizza Hut, Pets at Home and Cotswold camping store, would be demolished. 

A spokeswoman for Lidl confirmed this, saying that this would only happen once the existing retail units’ leases expire. 

The decision could see Pizza Hut be demolished (Image: Daily Echo)

Cotswold, which operates Dorset's only branch in Westover Retail Park, refused to comment on Lidl’s plans, as did Pets at Home. We also contacted Pizza Hut for comment. 

A spokeswoman for Pets at Home added: “There is no current impact on our store. 

“Our focus, as always, is on making sure we have the best pet care centres, in convenient locations, to best serve our customers.” 

A planning statement from Lidl said: “The site is ideally located to serve the surrounding residential areas and is already in retail use, being an existing retail park.   

“The proposals would replace the existing non-food retail units with a modern Lidl foodstore, built to our latest specifications.” 

There is also a Pets at Home in the retail park, which could be demolished (Image: Daily Echo)

Access would be gained to the 81-space car park, which includes disabled spaces, parent and child and EV charging spaces, via Wimborne Road. 

Lidl also say the 1,210 sq m sales area will include its bakery, longer style tills with dual packaging and customer toilets.

Read more: Construction well under way for new Lidl store in West Parley 

Up to 40 new and part-time jobs could be created if the new store is built. 

Residents in Muscliff, Moordown and Redhill have received leaflets from Lidl informing them of their intentions and they are being encouraged to write to the company voicing their thoughts on the proposal. 

Cotswold's only Dorset branch (Image: Daily Echo)

Lidl already has an existing supermarket a mile up the road on Winton high street. 

Lidl’s proposal is the latest in a long line of store being built in Dorset. 

Read more: Lidl submits plans to build another new store in Dorset

Work is progressing on a new store in Christchurch Road, in West Parley, and a planning application has been submitted to build a Lidl supermarket in Sandford Road, in Wareham. 

In October, Lidl closed its town centre store in Richmond Gardens Shopping Centre due to low footfall and problems with rent.