Key Points
- Lidl has submitted fresh plans for a combined supermarket and housing development on a long-derelict site on Tithepit Shaw Lane, on the border of Croydon and Surrey in Hamsey Green.
- The site has sat empty for years, acquired by Lidl 12 years ago, with previous plans stalled.
- Proposed supermarket features a sales area of around 1,235 sqm, including an in-store bakery, customer toilets, and baby-changing facilities.
- Development includes 55 customer parking spaces with accessible bays, parent-and-child bays, rapid electric vehicle charging points, covered cycle parking, and dedicated resident spaces.
- Above the store, plans propose six three-bedroom townhouses and seven two- and three-bedroom apartments, some as affordable housing, each with private gardens or terraces, secure storage, and dedicated parking.
- Lidl estimates up to 40 new jobs for local people, full-time and part-time, at London-wide pay rates.
- If approved, the project aims to revitalise the area, providing shopping, homes, and employment for the Hamsey Green community.
- Site described as derelict for years, akin to regeneration opportunities like Hackney Wick.
- Plans unveiled after 12 years of delay, as reported in local coverage.
INVERTED PYRAMID OF TRIANGLE
A long-derelict site on Tithepit Shaw Lane in Hamsey Green, straddling Croydon and Surrey, could soon be transformed following new planning submissions by German supermarket chain Lidl for a modern store and housing project. Acquired by Lidl 12 years ago, the plot has lain vacant despite earlier intentions, but fresh proposals outline a 1,235 sqm supermarket with bakery, toilets, and family facilities, alongside 55 parking spaces equipped for electric vehicles and cycles. Above the retail space, six three-bedroom townhouses and seven apartments—some affordable—would offer gardens, terraces, and secure parking, potentially creating 40 local jobs at competitive London rates.
The ambitious scheme, if greenlit by Croydon Council, promises economic and social renewal for Hamsey Green residents long awaiting activity on the eyesore site. Lidl’s return after over a decade underscores broader UK expansion efforts, though local sources highlight community anticipation amid past delays.
What Triggered Lidl’s Return After 12 Years?
As reported by Inside Croydon staff writers, Lidl purchased the Tithepit Shaw Lane site 12 years ago with store ambitions, but construction never materialised due to unspecified hurdles, leaving it derelict and comparable to pre-regeneration Hackney Wick. Now, in February 2025 announcements, Lidl has revived plans, submitting detailed proposals to Croydon Council for a mixed-use development blending retail and residential elements. Sanderstead Residents Association coverage notes the site’s prime border location has frustrated locals, with the new bid addressing long-standing calls for activation.
The delay mirrors challenges in UK retail planning, but Lidl’s persistence aligns with its national growth trajectory. Croydon Conservatives distributed leaflets in February 2025 publicising the Hamsey Green proposal, emphasising job creation and housing amid council deliberations.
What Features Will the New Supermarket Include?
The ground-floor supermarket spans approximately 1,235 sqm, incorporating an in-store bakery for fresh produce, customer toilets, and baby-changing facilities to cater to families in Hamsey Green. Parking provisions total 55 spaces, featuring accessible bays, parent-and-child options, rapid electric vehicle chargers, covered cycle parking, and spaces reserved for residents. MyLondon reports highlight these amenities as key to modern, inclusive design on the formerly vacant plot.
Residential upper levels comprise six three-bedroom townhouses and seven two- or three-bedroom apartments, with some units designated affordable housing. Each home includes private gardens or terraces, secure storage, and dedicated parking, enhancing appeal for Croydon and Surrey families.
How Many Jobs and What Pay Will Be Offered?
Lidl projects up to 40 new positions, encompassing full-time and part-time roles, with remuneration matching its London-wide rates—among the sector’s highest. As per corporate statements echoed in local press, these opportunities target Hamsey Green locals, boosting employment in a community reliant on nearby retail.
This aligns with Lidl GB’s expansive hiring pledges; for instance, Chief Executive Christian Härtnagel stated in a 2021 press release,
“Our new store target today marks a significant investment for the business… I am also looking forward to welcoming even more colleagues to the Lidl GB team,”
foreshadowing thousands of jobs nationwide by 2025.
Is This Part of Lidl’s Wider UK Expansion?
Lidl’s Croydon bid fits into aggressive national plans, including a 2025 target of 1,100 stores and over 4,000 jobs, as announced in November 2021 by Lidl GB. A half-billion-pound investment unveiled in April 2025 by Richard Taylor, Chief Real Estate Officer at Lidl GB, commits to more than 40 new outlets this financial year, welcoming government planning reforms in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to ease barriers. Taylor remarked,
“This level of investment is a clear sign of our ambition… New Lidl stores mean new jobs, new opportunities for British suppliers, and continued investment into local economies”.
Earlier 2024 proposals sought 12 leased sites with £91 million backing, though Croydon specifics emerged later via local outlets like Inside Croydon. Sites of interest span high streets and retail parks, with Hamsey Green now prioritised after years idle.
What Do Locals and Officials Say About the Plans?
Hamsey Green community voices, via Sanderstead Residents Association, express optimism for revitalisation, noting the site’s dormancy has blighted the area. Croydon Conservatives’ February 2025 leaflet campaign urged support, framing it as vital for jobs and homes without quoting specific officials.
No direct council statements appear in sourced coverage, but approval hinges on planning merits amid Lidl’s emphasis on community benefits. MyLondon coverage positions it as a win for Croydon, potentially mirroring successful regenerations elsewhere.
How Does the Site’s History Shape Current Hopes?
Purchased 12 years prior, the Tithepit Shaw Lane plot symbolises stalled ambitions, as Inside Croydon detailed in February 2025: plans “set to unveil” after prolonged vacancy. Dereliction drew parallels to Hackney Wick’s transformation, fuelling expectations for similar uplift in Hamsey Green.
Lidl’s fresh submission incorporates evolved standards like EV charging and affordable units, absent in prior visions, reflecting post-pandemic retail shifts.
What Challenges Might Delay Approval Again?
Past hurdles remain unstated, but UK planning complexities persist, as Taylor noted: communities “cry out for convenient access,” yet reforms are needed. Lidl’s brochure lists Hamsey Green implicitly via Surrey-Croydon focus, cautioning sites indicate interest, not guarantees.
Local politics, via Conservative outreach, suggest cross-party backing, but environmental or traffic concerns could arise given 55 spaces and border location.
Why Focus on Affordable Housing Here?
Of 13 units, some are affordable, addressing Croydon’s needs amid housing shortages. Designs ensure private amenities, differentiating from pure retail schemes and bolstering approval odds.
This mixed-use approach echoes Lidl’s modern playbook, blending commerce with residences for sustainable development.
When Could Construction Begin if Approved?
Timelines unspecified, but Lidl’s pace—roughly a store weekly—suggests swift action post-approval. National infrastructure like Belvedere warehouse expansion and Leeds centre support logistics.
Hamsey Green awaits council decision, potentially unlocking the site by mid-2026.
Lidl’s Hamsey Green endeavour, rooted in 12-year ownership, exemplifies patient investment yielding community gains. With detailed amenities, jobs, and homes, it positions as a model for derelict site renewal, integral to Lidl’s £500 million 2025 push. Coverage from Inside Croydon, Sanderstead Residents, MyLondon, and Lidl corporate underscores unanimous positivity, barring routine planning tests.
