Perth Aldi store granted planning approval for third time
Perth and Kinross councillors have voted - against planning officers' recommendation - to approve a new £5.5 million Aldi in Perth, creating around 16 new jobs.
It is the third time councillors have approved plans for the German-based supermarket chain to replace its Glasgow Road store with a larger, modern, fit-for-purpose store on Necessity Brae.
On Wednesday, June 12 the Planning and Placemaking Committee convener Ian Massie moved for approval with the support of all bar one on the committee.
Aldi has two Perth stores and, as part of a legal agreement, its new store at Pickembere, Pitheavlis would not open until the existing Glasgow Road store closes.
Planning permission for the replacement Perth store was initially granted - by Perth and Kinross Council's (PKC) Planning and Placemaking Committee - in May 2022. But in February 2023, councillors were asked to re-assess Aldi's application taking account of the latest National Planning Framework (NPF4). Again, councillors voted for approval.
But the approval was then subject to a judicial review - following a legal challenge by Tesco - and the Court of Session quashed Aldi's planning permission on April 26, 2024.
Following the judicial review, Aldi submitted a revised application to PKC this year. There were 22 letters of objection - including one from Tesco, which has three Perth stores as well as a petrol station store in Scone . The rival supermarket submitted an objection on the grounds: it was not a small-scale neighbourhood retail development; the site was allocated for employment use, and the "limited benefits" were not "adequate to determine the application other than to refuse".
Perth Community Flood Aid also objected, raising concerns about flood risk saying the area next to the site had flooded at least five times in recent years.
PKC planners recommended refusal of the application - citing NPF4 policy 28 - saying it was "an out of centre location and is not allocated for new retail development" and "would encourage diversion of existing footfall and spend away from the city centre".
There were 19 letters of support for the application, as well as a petition with over 800 signatures calling for the new Aldi to be built.
Cherrybank resident Seamus Farren - who launched the petition - addressed the committee on Wednesday outlining the strong local support for the development.
He said it would "greatly benefit" his neighbourhood, particularly elderly residents "who currently have to rely on public transport or taxis to reach the city centre for their grocery needs".
Speaking on behalf of Aldi, Stantec flood risk engineer Gary Spence told councillors measures taken as part of the development would reduce flood risk.
He said: "We've calculated the discharge rate into the downstream catchment of this area of land and our proposed system would restrict flows and provide betterment of 77 per cent at least."
PKC's Flood team did not object to the proposal.
Moving the plans for approval convener Ian Massie referred to the Court of Session decision following Tesco's legal challenge.
He said: "The court concluded that the proposal did not meet the definition of small scale neighbourhood retail development under policy 28c of NPF4.
"But I am satisfied this revised application has been carefully prepared in response to that ruling with a clearer and more comprehensive policy justification.
"I'm also satisfied the proposal addresses all relevant technical matters including potential flooding and drainage issues."
In March 2025 the committee voted by nine votes to two to grant Lidl permission to build a second Perth store on Crieff Road, also opposed by Tesco. They rejected council officers' recommendation to refuse the application, arguing the development would give residents "more choice" and supported the National Planning Framework 4's (NPF4) 20-minute neighbourhoods.
Following the March decision, the committee's convener SNP councillor Ian Massie wrote to Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee saying the current national planning policy "lacks coherence" and "will not strengthen town centre High Streets".
In his response, Mr McKee said: "As you will know, NPF4 and the wider development plan must be considered as a whole, then taking account of material considerations, when reaching a planning judgement."
Using this direction from Scotland's Public Finance Minister, Cllr Massie argued Aldi's application "aligns with local and national policy objectives and makes effective use of an under-utilised site".
He said the brownfield site had been designated for employment use on PKC's local development plan "but has remained undeveloped for over 17 years due to abnormal building costs and market conditions."
He cited NPF4 policy 9a which "supports the reuse of such land to promote regeneration and effective land use".
The Perth City North councillor said the development would support active travel "within a residential area" as well as "advancing the principle of local living and 20-minute neighbourhoods".
Conservative councillor Keith Allan seconded the motion to approve.
SNP councillor Ken Harvey attempted to table an amendment to refuse the application but got no support.
He said: "I think it's contrary to policy 28 [of NPF4]. I think some of the other reasons are valid but I don't think any of them outweigh the characteristics of policy 28, particularly the 20-minute neighbourhoods. This kind of development was definitely not what was intimated on that."
Cllr Harvey's amendment fell and the motion to approve the planning application - subject to planning conditions and a legal agreement - was approved.
Following the meeting, Real Estate director for Aldi in Scotland Andy Doyle, said: "We are delighted that councillors have again backed the overwhelming support from the local community and approved our plans for a new store at Necessity Brae.
"We look forward to delivering a larger store for our loyal customers in Perth, while creating new local jobs and bringing significant investment to the area.
"We are grateful to everyone who took the time to voice their support, and look forward to welcoming customers to the new store."
All existing Aldi staff will move from the Glasgow Rd store to the Necessity Brae Aldi with around 16-20 new jobs being created. According to Mr Doyle, the new store is expected to open around the end of 2026, beginning of 2027.
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