Video: New study details impact of supermarkets on East Lindsey market towns

East Lindsey District Council enlisted planning firm Nathaniel Lichfield to carry out the retail and economic assessment study.

It found that food store trade in Louth (+39 per cent) and Alford (+34 per cent) was well above the national average for trade levels, evidence, according to Nathaniel Lichfield, that the two towns could sustain at least one new supermarket.

The report said new supermarkets in Louth and Alford would have a ‘significant impact’ on existing stores, but that those stores would survive due to the already increased trade they were experiencing.

However findings for Horncastle found that trade, on average, was down 21 per cent, showing that the town was incapable of sustaining another large food store.

In Louth there were three suggested sites that were ‘physically capable’ of siting a supermarket, these were the Cattle Market, Queen Street car park and the existing Morrison’s store (via an extension).

The district council will feed the evidence into their Draft Core Strategy, which is currently out to consultation with the public, and onto their planning policy for future decisions.

The video shows Nathaniel Lichfield director Peter Wilks, who carried out the report, explaining some of the findings.

Read more on what the report means to the three towns in the paper on Wednesday.