Prime Highlights:
- Lidl announces a £31 million investment in the north west over the next five years, including plans for three new stores.
- The expansion will create over 100 new retail jobs and support hundreds more during construction.
Key Facts:
- Two new stores are planned for Londonderry’s Waterside and Creggan areas, with a third in Castlederg, County Tyrone.
- Lidl currently operates 44 stores in Northern Ireland, contributing £360 million to the local economy and supporting nearly 7,000 jobs.
Background:
Supermarket chain Lidl has unveiled plans for a £31 million investment across the north west over the next five years, including three new stores and more than 100 new retail jobs.
The retailer, which already operates 44 outlets across Northern Ireland, confirmed that two of the proposed stores are earmarked for the Waterside and Creggan areas of Londonderry, with another planned for Castlederg in County Tyrone. Lidl said the move reflects its long-term commitment to the Derry City and Strabane district.
Regional managing director Gordon Cruikshanks said the company is currently assessing potential sites in Creggan and Castlederg, noting that planning applications are still several months away as negotiations continue.
“We hope to move both the Creggan and Castlederg projects forward within the next 12 months,” he said. He also highlighted the lengthy planning process surrounding a previously approved store at Crescent Link in Derry’s Waterside. The council approved the project in 2021, but it was later delayed by the Department for Infrastructure.
Local political representatives echoed Lidl’s concerns. DUP MLA Gary Middleton said Northern Ireland’s slow planning system is a major deterrent for investors, while SDLP MLA Sinéad McLaughlin urged a more efficient approach to ensure major developments progress without unnecessary hold-ups.
Lidl noted that its existing Buncrana Road store in Derry ranks among the busiest across its global network. The company, which celebrated 25 years in Northern Ireland in 2024, reported contributing £360 million to the regional economy last year and supporting nearly 7,000 jobs.
