Contractor Benniman Construction is now on site progressing the first phase of the overall investment and modernisation programme – this involves creating a new car park for JVM castings so that the location of the previous car park, which fronts Droitwich Road, can become a new Lidl.

The scheme will inject new life into the 10-acre site, creating around 40 new jobs from the supermarket and enabling JVM castings, a long-standing Worcester family business, to benefit from the upgrades to the site, capital investment, and better parking for its own staff.

Paul Jagroop, Director at Ashfield Land, said: “With so much uncertainty around because of Covid, it’s excellent to be pressing the button on an important and significant investment for Worcester. This is an ideal example of Ashfield Land delivering regeneration through smart land use and committed partnering. Working with JVM and Lidl GB – and supported by an excellent design, planning and construction team – we’re transforming this site into an asset for the city and something fit for the future.”

When complete, the scheme will have delivered:

• A new 2,200 sq m Lidl supermarket with a dedicated customer car park
• Improved facilities for JVM castings with new staff parking and more efficient use of the site
• Substantial financial contributions (via CiL and Section 106 funding) for local investment, highways improvements and local cycle lane infrastructure

The work is expected to take approximately 10 months, with a target completion and handover date for the new Lidl building of spring 2022. The new store is anticipated to open in summer 2022 following its internal fit out by Lidl GB.

Rachel Hargreaves, Regional Head of Property at Lidl GB, said: “There’s been much anticipation for this new Lidl store and it’s great that we are now in a position to break ground and start construction. We are extremely grateful for all the support that we have received so far and would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding whilst we enter this next phase of the development.”

Karl Murcott, Director at JVM castings, said: “Worcester is our home and this re-organisation and regeneration of the site will guarantee our future here for many years to come. The scheme allows us to upgrade our site and face forwards with confidence.”

Planning permission was granted in April 2020 by Worcester City Council and signed off through the Section 106 in September 2020.

Ashfield Land appointed local West Midlands-based Benniman Construction through a negotiated tender process – Benniman has recently successfully delivered Ashfield Land’s Sinclair Retail Park multi-tenanted retail scheme in Evesham.

The wider design and development team includes:

• Architect: SRD Architects
• PM, QS, EA: Naismiths
• Civil and Structural engineer: CWA
• Services infrastructure: Cundall
• CDM: PRLC Ltd