Cheshire East unanimously approves Congleton Aldi, Starbucks

Clowes Developments can now press on with phase four of its Viking Park masterplan to deliver 25,000 sq ft of retail space.

Cheshire East unanimously approved the developer’s latest plans for the 55-acre plot off Viking Way at a planning meeting this morning. This decision was made in line with officer recommendations.

Clowes was granted outline permission for the wider masterplan in February to provide up to 175 homes, as well as more than 219,500 sq ft of industrial space and 36,800 sq ft of offices in Congleton.

Whittam Cox Architects designed the retail scheme, which will create 24,700 sq ft of commercial space anchored by a 19,200 sq ft Aldi supermarket.

A 1,800 sq ft Starbucks drive-thru will also be provided, as well as a 3,700 sq ft retail unit to be built on a speculative basis.

Councillors shared their joy in the number of jobs that the scheme will create in the area, while highlighting the public support that it has received.

The reserved matters application was submitted in May.

Asteer Planning is the scheme’s planning consultant. Also on the project team are landscape architect TPM Landscaping, transport consultant Hub Transport, and environmental consultant Tyler Grange.

Clowes acquired the Congleton site from Richborough Estates in 2021 for its redevelopment into a mixed-use park.

In May, contractor TanRo started work on a 102,000 sq ft warehouse there.

Want to learn more about the retail proposals? Search for application number 23/2054C on Cheshire East Council’s planning portal.

Plans for the wider masterplan can be found by searching for application number 19/5596C.