Plans to bring a fifth budget supermarket to Carlisle which were abandoned because of flooding, are being revisited.

Lidl submitted an application to build its second store in the city on Warwick Road last year, but pulled it in January after the area was devastated by the effects of Storm Desmond.

But now a spokeswoman has said that the firm is still examining whether the shop can go ahead.

She said: “We are reviewing options for Carlisle and remain committed to bringing a new store to the city.

“Warwick Road is still under consideration and we are currently working alongside the Environment Agency, assessing the site.”

The plans, lodged in September, would have seen the supermarket build on land off Warwick Road at its junction with Victoria Road.

The proposed location was left under water when Storm Desmond devastated the city in December.


Lidl logo Lidl already has a store at Madford Retail Park in Charlotte Street, which was extended last summer.

According to Lidl’s planning application, the new 26,600sq ft store would have had “significant economic benefits” and created up to 40 jobs.

Councillor Robert Betton, the Carlisle city and Cumbria county council member for Botcherby, who sits as an Independent on both authorities is worried by the news.

He said: “There are a lot of things which have got to be looked at. Flood plains shouldn’t be built on. If they are built on, the water is going to look for its own level. I will be keeping an eye on it, there is a right place and a wrong place for development.”


Robert Betton Mr Betton also said he knew many people living in the area who were concerned about the development, not just because of how it could affect the flood risk but because of how it might add to traffic congestion.

He added: “If they [local residents] do not want a store to be built, I think strongly they should be listened to.”

An Environment Agency spokeswoman confirmed the organisation was helping to ensure future developments did not increase the flood risk in Carlisle.

She said: “We are keen to encourage sustainable development and economic growth but we must ensure that any new development has fully considered the impact of flooding, particularly after the winter we have just had. We also need to ensure that any new development does not increase flood risk to business or residential properties.

“We objected to the proposed development before the December 2015 flood events as we wanted the applicant to give further consideration to the probability and consequence of any possible potential flood event affecting the site they were interested in on Warwick Road.

“Shortly after this, a real flood event occurred and we understand the applicant’s consultants are considering the impact of this flood had they built the store.”

She added that the agency would share information it had about last year’s floods and was working on a report on the aftermath of Storm Desmond.