The site was bought by Lidl £2m, but has sat largely empty since
A long‑derelict site on the border of Croydon and Surrey may finally be brought back to life after Lidl submitted fresh plans for a combined store and housing development. The site, which has sat empty for years, is expected to provide new shopping, homes and jobs for the community of Hamsey Green, Croydon.
If approved, the development would see a modern supermarket built on Tithepit Shaw Lane, with a sales area of around 1,235 sqm. This will include an in‑store bakery, customer toilets and baby‑changing facilities.
Some 55 customer parking spaces will be provided, including accessible bays, parent‑and‑child bays, rapid electric vehicle charging points, covered cycle parking and dedicated resident spaces.
Above the store, the plans include six three‑bedroom townhouses and seven two‑ and three‑bedroom apartments, some designated as affordable housing, each with private gardens or terraces. The design also provides secure storage and dedicated parking for residents.
The German supermarket chain estimates the development could create up to 40 new jobs for local people, both full‑time and part‑time, offering pay in line with its London‑wide rates.
The site, formerly the Good Companions pub, was bought by Lidl 12 years ago. During a visit to the area in February of this year, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) asked residents for their thoughts on the development.
Residents living opposite the site highlighted how long it had been boarded up and left to deteriorate, with some areas attracting graffiti, fly‑tipping and becoming an “eyesore”.
Local resident Geoff Goatley also expressed concerns over the increased traffic the store may bring to the area, and fears over road safety for children at nearby schools. He told the LDRS: “At school time, it is absolute murder; if you come after 2.30 pm you can’t get parked anywhere.”
In the past year, Lidl consulted local residents on the plans. They said over 1,300 residents supported the proposals, highlighting potential benefits such as increased shopping convenience, new homes and local employment opportunities.
As part of the proposal, Lidl has put forward a package of traffic and environmental measures. These include traffic‑calming initiatives, a proposed reduction of the nearby speed limit, improved pedestrian crossings near the site and local schools, and landscaping intended to help the development integrate with its surroundings.
Under the current plans, Lidl says it has conducted detailed design consultations and pre‑application meetings with the planning authority, aiming to address local concerns about traffic, safety and environmental impact.
The site sits on the border between Croydon and Surrey’s Tandridge district, with Warlingham just minutes away. This means the application must be submitted to both local authorities for approval.
Max Clapton, Regional Head of Property at Lidl GB, told the LDRS: “Thank you to everyone who took part in our consultation. We want to deliver a scheme that’s best for Hamsey Green and have updated our proposals in line with the feedback we received.
“We hope to become a pillar of the community, providing investment, jobs and homes through our development, and are excited to be a step closer to delivering this. With the plans now submitted, we encourage as many residents as possible to support our proposals and help secure this much‑needed development.”
Residents can view the plans on Croydon Council’s planning portal by searching the reference: 25/03653/FUL. The Tandridge Council application is also available at: TA/2025/1271.
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