A Lidl supermarket is finally coming to Richmond and rather strangely it’s going to include a primary school.

Building work on the new discount store on Richmond Road is well underway and it is due to open in spring next year.

Deer Park School also hopes to move into the new site for the summer term provided there are no delays in construction.

Despite the unusual location, many parents and residents supported the plans. 

Local resident Jenny Brand said: “My grandson goes to Deer Park school and my daughter-in-law is very active in their PTA . I think it’s a very good site for the school as East Twickenham had nothing before. As for Lidl, I’ve never lived near one so it will be a new experience but I’m told they are very good.”

One mum in Twickenham said: “I’m excited for the Lidl coming. Although Richmond is an affluent area my fiance and I aren’t, and are keen bargain hunters, so somewhere I know I can get groceries cheaply near to where I live is great for us.”

She added: “I have a baby and a new school is the area is positive from my perspective. There’s a lot of kids in the borough so I’d imagine another school is needed. It’ll be great to have an additional choice for a school for my baby when his time comes around. In a way it’s a good use of space to have a supermarket and school on top of each other, but the road the Lidl is being built on already gets incredibly busy at rush hour, so there may be issued with traffic, crowds and parking.

Lidl says the new shop will include an “extensive bakery offering” as well as 55 retail parking spaces, while the first and second floors of the development will contain the school.

There will also be outdoor learning spaces on the second floor and an on-site playground, as well as a multi-use games area on the first floor for pupils to play games such as football and netball on site.

Parents will be encouraged to collect and drop off their children on the first floor in the multi-use games area to prevent congestion on the public footpath. 

Deer Park School, which only opened in 2015 and is currently located just of Twickenham Road, now sets its admissions point from the permanent site on Richmond Road.