Aldi fight on 2 fronts in bid to build store close to congested roundabout

Yahoo

a day ago

Supermarket chain Aldi has launched a bid to overturn a council's rejection of its £10m plan for a new store.
In November 2024, proposals for a 1,800 sq/ft store at Paragon business park in Chorley New Road, Horwich, were rejected by the council amid concerns about traffic, road safety, flooding and biodiversity.
Now Aldi has appealed that decision, and suggested that the process be settled via a four-day public hearing.
Representatives at the discount supermarket chain said the council's reasons for refusal should be "tested through formal questioning by an advocate".
In April this year, Aldi also submitted a fresh planning application for the scheme, which is currently awaiting a decision by the council.
Aldi said the resubmission of the plans would "seek to address the previous reasons for refusal through expanded and updated technical evidence".
The appeal means the German based discount retailer is pursuing its wish to build the store on two fronts.
The proposed site is next to the Beehive roundabout, which members of the planning committee said when refusing permission, is often the location of traffic congestion.
It is also close to Bolton Wanderers' Toughsheet Stadium. Aldi said access to the new store would be via a new slip road entrance in Chorley New Road, near the roundabout.
Vehicles would exit from a different junction onto De Havilland Way.
The supermarket giant said approval of the plans would mean the creation of 40 to 50 full and part-time local jobs on the site and various other indirect jobs in construction, supply chain and support.
Aldi added that they would target construction within 18-months of obtaining planning permission. Documents supporting Aldi's appeal said "there are no highways issues as a result of the proposed development".
The statement added: 'A transport assessment was prepared and submitted in support of the planning application.
'Significantly, the traffic impact section concluded that the proposal would not have an adverse impact upon the safe and efficient operation of the existing local highway network both now and in the future.
'This was based on operational capacity assessments of various surrounding junctions.'
The appeal justification also refuted the council's stated refusal reasons of "a significant loss of biodiversity from the site" and that the "development would result in an increase in flood risk in the local area".
Documents in support of the revised planning application said: 'Aldi's very presence is also anticipated to raise the profile of the site, investor confidence, and market interest in the business park during a challenging economic period.'
Aldi already operate a store in Horwich, less than a mile away from the proposed new location at Mason Street but have said the proposed store had no implications for the retailer's ongoing operation in Horwich town centre, which they consider serves a different catchment area.
The scheme would provide 131 car parking spaces at the site.
Council planners will decide on the resubmitted proposals in the coming weeks and will also deliberate on whether to contest the planning appeal.