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Birmingham Post
Birmingham Post
Business
Tom Duffy & Tom Houghton

Lidl wants to demolish Abbey Cinema building to build new Liverpool supermarket

Lidl has said it wants to knock down an historic Liverpool cinema to build a new supermarket.

The supermarket chain announced the Abbey Cinema building in Wavertree will be demolished as it's "beyond economic repair".

The firm bought the Church Road building last year after Co-op moved out, as the Liverpool Echo reports.

Last year campaign group Love Wavertree and The Wavertree Society both said they wanted to work with Lidl to avoid demolition.

The new plans have been revealed following an extensive survey by the supermarket.

Plans will now be put before the council to demolish the former picture palace that features in the original draft lyrics to The Beatles song In My Life.

The company intends to build a new multi-million pound store on the site, which will create 30 jobs.

Stuart Jardine from Lidl said: “We have exciting plans for Liverpool. A new Lidl store on Church Road North will improve local shopping choice and bring a much needed supermarket back to the centre of Wavertree, following the Co-op’s decision to close last year.

“Following thorough surveys and assessments of the existing building, it is quite clear that it is beyond economic repair.

"Lidl is proposing to replace the current premises with a unique store to serve the local community, provide jobs and bring life back to this site.

“We’re launching a ‘virtual’ public consultation in order to give everyone an opportunity to review our plans, and we fully encourage the community to provide their questions and comments via the project website or the consultation leaflet.”

A Lidl spokesman said the proposed new store would have a 1,654 sqm gross floor area, and include an in-store bakery and 69 car parking spaces including disabled, parent and child spaces and rapid electric vehicle charging spaces. Dedicated cycle spaces will also be created.

The Abbey, which opened in 1939, belonged to the golden era of British cinemas when local picture houses attracted mass audiences.

Designed by Sir Alfred Ernest Shennan, the Abbey offered audiences a dazzling experience amid ornate columns and neon lights. The Abbey's foyer included a bar and gold fish pond.

The art deco cinema closed in 1979 and since then has been a bingo hall, snooker club and the ground-floor used as a supermarket.

Lidl has invited the public to comment on the proposals.

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