Aldi to build 19,000 sq ft Prescot store

The budget supermarket chain has earmarked nine acres north of Cables Way for a food store, 40,000 sq ft of employment uses, a drive-thru restaurant, a coffee shop, and a pub, in a scheme now approved by Knowsley Council.

Aldi’s hybrid application was signed off by the council last week, paving the way for the retailer to start work on site.

The application sought full planning permission for a 19,439 sq ft supermarket, two 20,000 sq ft office developments, car parking – including 122 dedicated spaces for the foodstore and 89 spaces serving the rest of the development – other infrastructure, access routes, and landscaping.

Outline consent was sought for a further mix of uses including a drive-thru restaurant of just under 3,000 sq ft; a drive-through coffee shop of up to 1808 sq ft; a public house and restaurant of 6,339 sq ft, and further car parking.

Layout for the plans. The site was previously part of BICC Pyrotenaz’s industrial complex, demolished in 2005. Credit: via planning documents

The Aldi store is planned to have a large element of shop front glazing and a contemporary pressed metal entrance canopy covering the trolley bay area. High-level glazing would then cover the sales floor layout in a ribbon arrangement to add light, interest, and visual prominence to the principle elevations, the planning application states.

The development site is adjacent to Carr Lane and Cables Way in Prescot. It is vacant at present and consists largely of scrub land and trees. It was previously part of cable manufacturer BICC Pyrotenaz’s industrial complex and has lain empty and derelict since the factory was demolished in 2005.

Aldi noted in its application documents that it has held numerous meetings with Knowsley since 2018 to discuss the development. Since the application was validated last year, some objections have been raised, including from supermarket giant Tesco, which claimed its nearby Extra store, located east of the development site, would be negatively impacted.

In a letter dated 3 November, Aldi’s planning consultant Avison Young responded that the proposed 19,000 sq ft Aldi store was less than a quarter of the size of Tesco’s 118,000 sq ft store, and therefore “it is very difficult to imagine a situation whereby the proposed discount foodstore would affect the long-term viability of Tesco’s existing, much larger asset in Prescot”.

CGI showing what the Prescot Aldi may look like. Credit: Vector Design Concepts

Aldi was granted planning permission subject to entering into a Section 106 agreement with contributions amounting to just over £168,200. This includes replacement tree planting to mitigate the impacts of the development. Aldi will also be obligated to complete the employment units before the food store or food and drink units are occupied, the council said.

Holliss Vincent is council’s retail planning consultant.

Those looking to learn more about the proposals can find the application on Knowsley Council’s planning portal using reference number 20/00576/HYB.

Another scheme approved by Knowsley last week is a 40-apartment residential block aimed at over-55s on land adjacent to Greenhill in Huyton. The 58,000 sq ft scheme, from developer Alderley Group, is to feature Juliette balconies, vehicular access, car parking, and other associated works.