Aldi appeals Bolton rejection
The supermarket giant was refused permission to build 20,000 sq ft store close to Bolton Wanderers’ Toughsheet Stadium last year.
Aldi has appealed this rejection, which was handed down by the committee against the recommendation of officers two and a half years after the application was submitted.
Bolton Council will now have to decide whether to contest the appeal. Defeat could incur significant costs to the authority.
The committee voted unanimously to reject the project, located on the edge of Paragon Business Park, last November due to worries about increased traffic in the area and concerns about flood risk and reduced biodiversity.
Rival retailers Lidl and Tesco had raised objections to the project. Among them was a claim that Aldi had failed to carry out a full sequential test – the process of analysing other sites near by to see if there are sequentially preferable locations for the proposed development.
During the preparation of its application, Aldi identified and discounted six potentially preferable sites, including one within the 1,700-home Rivington Chase masterplan.
A statement of case submitted by Avison Young on behalf of Aldi states that the project “constitutes a high-quality design whilst also making an appropriately efficient use of a brownfield site”. In addition, AY refutes the assertions made by the committee that the scheme would negatively impact highways, reduce biodiversity, and increase the chances of flooding.
“Any harm identified is clearly and demonstrably outweighed by the significant benefits of the scheme,” the statement says.
While Aldi is appealing the rejection of its 2022 application, a fresh proposal has also been submitted to the council in the meantime, which means Aldi is now effectively fighting for approval on two fronts.
Anyone who has been through the details of this design knows the highways layout isn’t great. The last thing De Havilland Way needs is a traffic light junction just before the roundabout. Most constructive way forward would be to review the highways layout and avoid the mess of an appeal.
By MJ
Far too congested on the Beehive roundabout and we don’t need any more supermarkets in that area. Would be a disaster for residents as far too much traffic in that area now.
By Anonymous
I am appalled that important decisions by Bolton council are primarily based on what the costs could be to the council. Not on the merits or disadvantages of the application. About 12 months ago I was present at an appeal decision from Peel enterprises regarding a third appeal to build 276 houses on Horwich golf course. The presiding planning officer told the councillors prior to making their vote that if they turned the application down again it would incur extra costs for the council!
At this present time our 50 Year old Close has been made a through road, and traffic and parking has increased dramatically.
Disgusted
M Carey
By Malcolm Carey
We do NOT need this, mainly because of the traffic situation, we also have an adequate Aldi in Horwich centre.
By Pauline Davies and Kevan Davies
The very last thing the Beehive area needs is more traffic control measures and increased traffic volume it is already a busy congested area. Furthermore Aldi already have a supermarket in Horwich and I do not think another one is needed, it feels like they are trying to gain a monopoly. I would also fear that this would increase flood risk to the area, my children attended St Joseph’s school and there have been instances over the years of this area flooding I think this project should be refused..
By Philomena Deighan
How many Aldi outlets does one small area need? There is one just down the road and other supermarkets close by.
Not everything needs to happen.
Think quality first
By Dan H
There are far too many supermarkets within the area that Aldi are doing their best to have approved
They also already have stores in close proximity of their new requested site
By Anonymous
We have enough supermarkets in Bolton.
The Beehive roundabout is congested already.
The council should think about what the people want not what they can put in the coffers. There are enough big units. Every bit of spare land going has a big unit on it. We have enough Aldis.
By Anonymous
Agree with all the other comments, there is no need for another supermarket here, there’s 4 within half a mile plus all the shops at Middlebrook.
I understand Tesco have some sort of covenant from when they occupied the site stating that another supermarket can’t access the site from Mansall Way which is ridiculous if it leads to further traffic problems at the Beehive roundabout.
Much needed housing would be the most appropriate use for the site which would get round the covenant issue and allow cars to access the site from Mansall Way.
By Nick
Dont need anymore shops !
By Jordan
I’d like an Aldi nr Middlebrook why should I have to go into Horwich or Westhoughton to do my shopping, traffic lights need to be on the roundabout, the worst traffic is when the football season starts people coming from the stadium completely block it, traffic lights and cameras would make a difference.
By Anonymous
due to worries about increased traffic in the area and concerns about flood risk and reduced biodiversity. but the same council gave permission to wipe out a nature reserve in order to build 1700 houses backing into the site. Logic?
By Bob
Why is ‘we don’t need another X?’ any kind of valid argument. We live in a market economy and in terms of grocery competition serves us generally quite well with range of quality and price points, if we give supermarkets geographic franchises that goes a\way. This was exactly the argument made by the AO Arena when the Coop live was proposed.
By Rich X
We don’t need any more shops, especially another Aldi. The roads would become dangerously congested since they’re bad enough now and would cause people to suffer during their work/school commutes since it’s bad enough already. Not necessary whatsoever.
By Anonymous
I am comforted by the regularity of the commentators objections wanting to enjoy the stasis and enabling Bolton to stop time progressing. Long shall Bolton exist in a fog of mystery and strangeness, we should welcome the enigma it has become for its planning committee decisions against officers recommendations.
By Anonsense