Horley: Tesco launches legal challenge against Lidl over planned store

Tesco has launched a legal challenge against plans to build a new Lidl in Surrey.

The supermarket has submitted a request for a judicial review against Reigate and Banstead Borough Council's decision to allow Lidl to relocate in Horley.

Lidl has written to residents to rally support and the council said it would "seek to defend" its decision. 

Tesco said any concerns submitted were based on material planning considerations.

This is the second time a major store has taken on the discount retailer over the move, after Waitrose weighed in against plans to convert the locally-listed Air Balloon pub in Brighton Road into a store, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Adam Forsdick, Lidl's regional head of property, said this "threat" to the new store would come as a "huge blow to many".

"We strongly disagree with their position and believe that these actions are only in the interest of Tesco and not the wider community," he added.

As part of Lidl's plans, a public consultation was carried out with 91.5% of its 2,183 responses being in favour of the site.

A letter to residents read: "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," it added.

During a planning committee meeting, Mr Forsdick said Lidl may need to relocate or leave Horley as it could not guarantee it could continue trading from its current site in Victoria Road.

The plans, which are now under challenge, were passed by nine votes to two, despite council officers recommending they be refused.

Tesco said it did not object to most planning applications from competitors and never raised concerns to plans on the basis of a loss of trade or to delay the development.

Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].