Retailer warns planning delays are limiting investment, jobs and local economic growth despite strong demand for new Londonderry store..however Council confirms it ‘awaits the outcome of the Minister's deliberation on the application’

Lidl Northern Ireland has urged planning authorities to address major delays in the approval process, highlighting the impact on investment, jobs, and regional economic growth.

Addressing a recent KPMG study outlining the retailer’s potential £500 million expansion and 60-store ambition, Robert Ryan, chief executive officer Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland said: “This study reinforces our potential economic and social impact in the region — underpinned by our £500 million expansion investment — but our ability to realise this impact is contingent entirely on the Planning system.”

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The call comes as Lidl continues to face significant delays for its proposed second store in Londonderry at Crescent Link Retail Park.

The £8 million development has been in the Planning system for more than six years (366 weeks as of 17 February 2026), after initial approval by Derry City and Strabane District Council and a later review by the Department for Infrastructure in October 2021.

Gordon Cruikshanks, regional managing director for Lidl Northern Ireland said: “Our ongoing challenges in Derry-Londonderry are particularly frustrating, given that our sole existing store there records the highest footfall of our entire store network in Northern Ireland and one of the highest footfalls in the entire international Lidl store network – pointing to exceptionally strong customer demand for our proposition in the city.

“However, like many businesses, we encounter challenges right across the planning system at both local and central government level in Northern Ireland, and this is hindering economic growth. Rather than acting as an economic lever, these delays, inconsistencies and uncertainty in the system defer investment, reduce scale and limit the realisation of economic and social benefits. “Lidl’s geographically distributed store network means that we are well-placed to support inclusive growth, resilient communities and shared prosperity right across Northern Ireland. We remain committed to engaging proactively with elected representatives, officers and departmental officials to overcome planning-related challenges so that we can realise our full social and economic impact here.”

In response a spokesperson for Derry City and Strabane District Council confirmed that a planning application for the erection of a supermarket at 20 Crescent Link Derry/Londonderry was approved by elected members of the Planning Committee in January of 2021.

On 21 September DFI wrote to the Council to advise the Minister had called this case into the Department for decision. The Council awaits the outcome of the Minister's deliberation on the application.