Discount supermarket chain Lidl is considering its next steps for a new store in Wavertree after the former Abbey Cinema building was awarded listed status.

Earlier this month, the retailer had announced plans to demolish the local landmark and redevelop the site into a “modern, spacious Lidl store”.

However, the former ‘picture palace’ has now been listed by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport at Grade II on advice by Historic England.

Sarah Charlesworth, listing adviser at Historic England, says: “The Abbey is an increasingly rare survivor from the 1930s heyday of cinema, designed by the Liverpudlian architect Alfred Shennan.

CGI of Lidl’s new Wavertree store.

“The building’s striking internationally-influenced architecture and the many special features of its interior design, including its wooden mosaic flooring and shell-like ceiling domes, will now be protected for future generations.

“The Abbey has proved to be versatile enough to serve a range of purposes since it closed as a cinema, so we hope that the owner and the local community will now come together to find a sustainable new use for this remarkable building.”

In light of the announcement, a spokesperson for Lidl told YM Liverpool: “We are aware of Historic England’s decision and we are now considering next steps”.

The new Lidl store would have a 1,654 sqm gross floor area, and include an in-store bakery, customer toilets and 69 car parking spaces including disabled, parent & child spaces and rapid electric vehicle charging spaces.

Main Image: Wiki Commons / Rept0n1x

Related posts:

Lidl reveals plans to replace Wavertree’s Abbey Cinema building with new store Agreement secured for ‘major supermarket’ to head to Kirkby town centre Lidl hopes to open new store on Park Road this autumn Job Centre moving to St Johns Metquarter announces Lambretta pop-up Fashion, furniture and homeware store heading to Liverpool ONE