Tesco threatens judicial review over planning approval for competitor

Supermarket giant Tesco has launched a judicial review challenge over Reigate and Banstead Council's decision to grant planning permission for the relocation of a Lidl store in Horley.

In a statement on the litigation, a spokesperson for Lidl claimed that Tesco had launched a series of challenges and objections over new Lidl stores across the country.

It highlighted another legal threat lodged by Tesco against Wiltshire Council, which led the borough council to quash approval it had previously given for a Lidl planning application.

Tesco launched a similar challenge in Devon in 2022.

Tesco said it does not object to the vast majority of planning applications submitted by its competitors, and any objections it does submit are based on material planning considerations.

The supermarket added that it never objects on the basis of loss of trade or simply to delay a competitor's planning application.

A spokesperson for Reigate and Banstead Council confirmed the local authority plans to defend its approval of the relocation.

According to Lidl's Regional Head of Property, Adam Forsdick, around 2,000 community members supported the proposal.

Updating residents in a letter, Forsdick said: "We are pleased that Reigate and Banstead Council will defend their decision, but if Tesco is successful, this will once again place the future of Lidl in Horley at risk.

"We would like to reassure you that we remain fully committed to bringing these new store proposals, but clearly this is likely to cause some delay and could ultimately impact our long-term presence in the town."

Adam Carey