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Residents opposing the construction of a Lidl supermarket have escalated their campaign by bringing their concerns before the Welsh government. The planned store received approval in 2024 from the Vale of Glamorgan council and is set to be built on land located at a junction dividing Llantwit Major and Llanmaes. However, local inhabitants have lodged an appeal in an effort to prevent the supermarket from being established.
During the appeal’s closing arguments on Wednesday, Sioned Davies, representing Countryside Matters, voiced strong opposition to the scheme. She emphasized that the proposed development would mark a significant moment in how Wales approaches countryside development. According to Davies, the project would inflict “real and acknowledged harm” to the surrounding landscape and diminish the clear separation between Llantwit Major and Llanmaes. Furthermore, she argued that the supermarket’s location would degrade the rural environment and fail to support sustainable transportation options like walking or cycling, thus falling short of the council’s active transport objectives. “The proposal is an unjustified major development in the open countryside… the benefits do not outweigh the harms,” Davies stated.
On the other hand, representatives for various stakeholders presented differing views. John Barrett, speaking on behalf of Filco and Co-op supermarkets, described the Lidl site as being “out-of-centre” and predicted it would permanently alter the “functional visual role of the site.” He also noted the store’s reliance on private cars due to its unsustainable location. Meanwhile, Gregory Jones KC, representing the Vale of Glamorgan council, portrayed the development as a reasonable extension of Llantwit Major rather than an intrusion upon untouched countryside. Jones highlighted that the supermarket would be largely hidden from Llanmaes by natural land contours and that a road separating the two settlements would continue to maintain their distinct identities. He also asserted that Llanmaes requires “a modern discount supermarket.” Douglas Edwards KC, advocating for Lidl, claimed the supermarket could benefit the local community by reducing the need to travel to towns like Barry. He added that the proposal would not result in “unacceptable harm to the countryside” and pointed out what he described as “unprecedented” levels of local support for the store.
Voices from the community echoed concerns about the potential impact of the supermarket. Gail Kirkham, a resident of Llanmaes, emphasized their desire to preserve the countryside rather than oppose supermarket development outright. Another local, Linda Christmas, warned that the supermarket would “fundamentally change the nature of the village,” raising worries about increased traffic and the possible merging of Llanmaes with Llantwit Major. In response, Lidl’s Rhydian Griffiths highlighted significant community backing, referencing a petition signed by nearly 3,800 local residents from surrounding areas including Llantwit Major and Llanmaes. Griffiths stated that the petition demonstrated recognition among locals of the benefits of more shopping options and easier access to Lidl’s discount offerings. He expressed hope that the government ministers would consider this widespread support when making their final decision
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