"Promise made, promise delivered" - Council leader reveals plans to create new Lidl supermarket in Hendon
Plans to build a new Lidl store in Sunderland are moving ahead with a target of opening by next year, it is claimed.
Sunderland City Council leader Councillor Michael Mordey said a planning application for the supermarket is due to follow soon and said this shows he is delivering on the promises made to residents.
In a post on Facebook, Cllr Mordey said: “Promise made, promise delivered. When I was re-elected as a Hendon ward councillor in 2022, I made a promise during that campaign to do all I could to secure a new supermarket for Hendon ward.
“I am delighted to update everyone that I have today met with a developer who is working with Lidl as their preferred operator to build a brand new supermarket on Hendon Road, next to D’Arcy Court.”
Accompanying the post, Cllr Mordey posted an initial plan of the proposed development site. The plan has Lidl’s branding label on it and is identified as a feasibility plan which is entitled Proposed Site Plan Option 3 for Hendon Road, Sunderland.
The design shows the layout of the main store, the customer entry point, proposed bakery, and warehouse for storage. The plan also shows an area outside the store for parking, including rapid electric vehicle charging bays, and spaces for parent and child, and disabled parking.
Plans also show “soft landscaping” areas of greenery around the proposed supermarket and an access point for heavy goods vehicles bringing deliveries to the store.
On the proposed time frame for the development, Cllr Mordey added: “The developer aims to have a full planning application submitted by late August (2026), with construction to commence before Christmas this year (2026).
“The target date for opening the new store is in the second half of next year (2027).”
Despite the development still appearing to be at an early stage in the planning process, Cllr Mordey added: “This is great news for the local area and I am delighted to have been able to play a small part alongside my brilliant ward colleagues Cllr Lynda Scanlan and Cllr. Stephen Lewis Elms in bringing this forward.”
Lidl has confirmed to the Echo that it is exploring bringing a new Lidl store to the area.