Morrisons bosses ‘reviewing’ plans and timeline for Louth store expansion
Bosses of supermarket chain Morrisons say they are reviewing plans to expand their Louth store.
In May 2024 Morrisons were given planning permission to expand their Eastgate store in Louth having gradually acquired surrounding parcels of land, aiming to enhance the store’s offerings.
However, in an update this week when approached by Lincolnshireworld, a Morrisons spokesperson said: "Due to rising construction costs and exceptional increases in operational costs we are reviewing the proposed plans to ensure they still meet the demand and needs of our customers."
Food inflation has continued to stubbornly rise in the UK due to increases in production costs.
The spokesperson added that they were also reviewing the proposed timeline for any construction, saying, “We don't have an update at the moment.” Meanwhile, in November 2024, Tesco saw its plans approved for a new store in the Northfields Park development occupying a site across the A16 from Fairfield Industrial Estate.
Morrisons received approval from East Lindsey District Council to demolish its supermarket to make way for a bigger store with plans to upgrade the ‘Market Street’, enhancing the customer cafe and restroom facilities, improving highway access, providing parking in close proximity to the store and its entrance, and adding attractive landscaping and planting throughout the site.
With the expanded site featuring a 37 per cent larger sales area, it would offer a broader selection of food items. In terms of employment, the renovation was to secure 82 existing jobs and create an additional 50 positions initially, according to the supermarket chain.
Phased construction would mean the store could continue to trade.
During the Planning Committee meeting, Councillor Neil Jones (Conservative) described the investment in the new store as “a very big economic advantage for Louth and the town centre.”
Councillor Daniel McNally (Conservative) added: “Access is definitely going to be better.”
However, since then Morrisons has confirmed the closure of a significant number of smaller stores, cafes, Market Kitchens, florists and pharmacies this year as part of a significant restructuring plan, along with numerous meat and fish counters.
The supermarket was acquired by US private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier and Rice in 2021.