Welsh town to get bigger and better Aldi after safety concerns raised
'Access to the Aldi we have now is horrendous, I'm surprised no-one has been killed' said one councillor
The scheme is for a new Aldi store at Cardigan's Bath House Road
(Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)
Plans for a new Aldi supermarket in a Welsh town have been approved after concerns were raised about "horrendous" access to the existing store. At a Ceredigion Council development this week, TJ Morris Ltd was granted permission for a new store and related works at in Bath House Road in Cardigan, which will be bigger than the current shop on Aberystwyth Road.
The application comes after a consultation period that ran from December 2024 to January 2025. A report for councillors revealed the proposal, featuring 82 car parking spaces, will share access with a previously approved Home Bargains outlet at the same location.
The document stated: "The existing store, consented in 2007, is constrained in size (1,230 sqm gross internal area) and is stated to no longer meets Aldi's operational requirements." For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here .
The document adds: "The proposed site is stated to offer the only viable opportunity within Cardigan to accommodate a larger, modern store and retain Aldi's presence in the town. Aldi plans to continue trading from the existing store until the new unit is operational.
"The current store employs 39 staff, all of whom would be retained, with approximately 10 additional jobs created and it is stated that further employment opportunities would arise during the construction, fit-out, and ongoing maintenance of the new store.
"It is also stated that Aldi, as freeholder of their existing store, intend for it to be re-occupied by an alternative use rather than continue as a food store once their new premises is available."
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The plans for a new Aldi store in Cardigan
(Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)
The report continued: "Importantly, the proposal is for the relocation of an existing Aldi store from an out-of-centre site to an edge-of-centre location.
"Most of the new store's turnover is expected to be transferred from the existing store, rather than drawing trade away from other retailers. This relocation is not considered a negative impact under planning policy, as it improves accessibility and supports more sustainable shopping patterns.
"Furthermore, as detailed within the planning statement, it can be reasonably assumed that Aldi will not dispose of their current premises to a market competitor and therefore, subject to consents, its current 1,230sqm of retail floorspace may be lost and partially offset any short-term increase in overall floorspace within Cardigan.
"It is stated that the development would help retain local expenditure that is currently leaking outside of the town centre, such as to the out-of-centre Tesco or stores outside Cardigan. This could lead to more linked trips with the town centre and increased footfall, enhancing the vitality of local businesses."
It added: "The development is stated to represent an investment of over £6 million into the local economy and strengthens the presence of a major retailer in a more sustainable, accessible location near the town centre, enhancing consumer choice and competition."
During the August meeting, councillors were told the new shop would be 53% larger.
Ward councillor Sian Maehrlein backed the plans, saying: "Access to the Aldi we have now is horrendous, I'm surprised no-one has been killed on that junction. It's going to create more jobs, no problem."
Committee members gave their unanimous backing to the proposal.
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