Care home sold by developer to Lidl, council says

The council says the site is still designated in its local plan for specialist residential accommodation

A council site bought by a developer to be used as a care home has been sold on to a supermarket instead, the local authority says.

Woking Borough Council (WBC) said following an open market sales process, the former Brockhill site had been bought by developer Frontier Estates for a new care home.

But the site has now been sold on to supermarket chain Lidl, the local authority says.

Lidl said the site presented "an exciting opportunity to bring forward a new chapter for the location" and that there was "a clear and growing need for a discount supermarket in the area".

The supermarket added: "We're currently assessing next steps and will continue to keep the local community informed as plans progress."

Frontier Estates has also been contacted for a comment.

WBC said the site was still designated in its local plan for specialist residential accommodation.

Ann-Marie Barker, WBC's leader, said the council was clear throughout the sales process that it wanted the site to continue to be used for accommodation for older and vulnerable residents.

She added: "Frontier Estates is a recognised provider of bespoke care facilities and had shared proposals for an 86-bed care home.

"Heads of terms for the land purchase were developed and signed on that basis."

Although other offers were received, they did not support the retention of the site for specialist residential accommodation, the leader said.

"Frontier's offer represented both the strongest financial return and a written intention to develop a new care home facility in accordance with our planning policies," Barker added.

"Although Frontier has sold its interest in the site to Lidl, this change in ownership does not alter the planning status of the site."

Barker said any new proposal must reflect the council's adopted planning policies, which support the site's retention for specialist residential accommodation.