Cut-price supermarket chain Lidl has been granted permission to build a £70m UK headquarters in Tolworth – a move which it says will bring up to 5,000 new jobs to London.

Councillors met at the Guildhall last night and granted planning permission for the German-based company to build a 240,000 ft² base at the former site of the Hook Venturer Sports Club, in Jubilee Way.

The plans, which were unanimously agreed by Kingston Council’s development control committee, will now be referred to City Hall for final approval.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015: Plans for Lidl's Tolworth head office met with approval

Saturday, October 8: Fears City Hall affordable homes policy could swing Tolworth Toby Jug redevelopment plan

If successful, the company said it hopes to begin works on the site early next year.

Ingo Fischer, board director for expansion and development, said: “We have worked very closely with Kingston’s planning officers since July 2015 and are greatly encouraged by the committee’s resolution to grant planning consent.

​“Our new headquarters not only signify an investment in our own infrastructure and workforce, but also highlight our wider investment ambitions within London as Lidl UK continues to experience incredible growth.”

Surrey Comet:

The site in Jubilee Way

The supermarket chain said the future investment projects because of the build could lead to almost 250 stores opening in the London over the coming years.

But despite the investment, some residents have questioned the scale of the building given neaby developments. 

In July, plans to build 705 homes on the nearby Toby Jug site were rejected by councillors with density and traffic congestion their biggest concerns.

Developer Meyer Bergman is expected to return with an even larger application in the coming months.

Work has already begun on building four blocks of flats near Tolworth Tower, plans which were met with fierce opposition by ward councillors and many residents.

Vicki Harris, chair of the Hook Rise Residents’ Association, said: “I suppose like everybody my main concern would probably be the traffic. [Planning applications] need to be looked at holistically because the traffic implications will be severe.”

“Overall I’m happy with the proposal and the decision, but I still have concerns about traffic.”

Surrey Comet:

Plans were first presented to residents last year

Tolworth councillors Ian George, Chris Hayes and Richard Hudson posted on their website before the decision that Lidl’s move could be seen as “a bit of a coup”:

They posted: “The borough has lost some big employers of the years and this could be seen as a bit of a coup for Kingston.

“However, there is a concern about traffic generation and parking.  It is of course on a very busy stretch of road, not far from the ultra-busy Tolworth roundabout.”

The cut-price supermarket chain agreed a £10m deal for the land with Kingston Council in July last year.

Council leader Kevin Davis said: "We welcome what is one of the biggest investments in London this year coming to Tolworth. It will act as a foundation stone for the regeneration of the wider area.

This is not only good for Kingston but also demonstrates that a forward-thinking council, working with a supportive Mayor, can deliver a post-Brexit London that is open for business."