Lidl reveals opening hours for proposed new Portsmouth city centre store
The supermarket could open until 10pm on weekdays and Saturdays, creating 40 full-time jobs
Plans for a new Lidl supermarket at Portsmouth’s former Matalan site reveal changes to the site’s parking, retail space and opening hours.
The proposals could reduce the amount of retail space at the former Matalan site off Station Road and cut the number of car parking spaces, newly submitted documents show.
Under the proposals, the number of parking spaces would fall from 140 to 130 on the the 9,840sqm site site.
The existing building has 3,115sqm of tradable floor space, which would be reduced to 2,417sqm under the plans – a decrease of 698sqm.
The proposals, submitted by Lidl Great Britain Ltd and Welbeck CP (Portsmouth) Ltd, aim bring the vacant site back into use as a foodstore and in-store bakery.
The supermarket is expected to create 40 full-time jobs if the development goes ahead.
Proposed opening hours are 8am to 10pm from Monday to Saturday, with the store open from 10am to 4pm on Sundays and bank holidays.
The application follows earlier plans for a new Lidl store at the site, which were submitted to Portsmouth City Council in May.
The former Matalan store closed in 2023 after relocating to the Pompey Centre, leaving the prominent city centre site vacant.
Lidl currently operates four stores in Portsmouth, in Fratton, Copnor, North End and Hilsea.
The supermarket chain has said the proposed city centre store would improve shopping choice and create jobs, with the final decision resting with Portsmouth City Council.
The site had previously been earmarked for the HMRC office development, which was expected to accommodate around 1,250 employees. However, the government department withdrew from the project in 2025.
The application can be viewed through the council’s planning portal under reference 26/00596/FUL.