German discounter Lidl has been forced to rewrite its selection criteria for new UK stores due to shortages of sites and difficulties in getting planning consent. Mark Sheehan, director of property agent Christie and Co, said: "Lidl favours new builds, but has now had to broaden its specifications to estate agents due to difficulties in finding the right sites. It is also having difficulties in getting planning consent at the local level, in common with all the supermarkets." He said Lidl, which now has 370 stores across the UK, is having to outmanoeuvre local planners on a site-by-site basis. In one case, the chain is locked in a planning battle in Hampshire with Hart Council, to open a non food store at a derelict petrol station in Blackwater. It has appealed against the council's refusal to allow a Lidl non food outlet called Pine Man on the site. Hart Council planning manager Martin Pendlebury said: "This is a tactical move to establish retail use for the site, which is opposite a branch of Aldi. "The original Lidl application to build a hotel and supermarket at the site was refused a year ago, and Lidl then opened a pine shop which we closed down." Lidl refused to comment. {{NEWS }}

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