Aldi seeks permission for Norris Green supermarket

Aldi has requested planning permission for a 3.37 acre retail development on the site of the former Sayers Bakery in Norris Green, Liverpool.

The supermarket chain acquired the Lorenzo Drive site in 2008 when Sayers was still operational. The bakery was damaged in a suspected arson attack and was subsequently demolished in 2009.

The development would be anchored by an 18,000 sq ft Aldi supermarket with two additional units built speculatively for either retail or non-retail use.

Aldi has reached agreement with Liverpool City Council for a "hybrid" planning application in order to speed development.

Full planning approval is being sought for the Aldi supermarket with outline planning requested for the further two units, which span 10,000 and 3,800 sq ft. Both could be split into smaller units.

A planning and retail statement produced on Aldi's behalf by Jones Lang LaSalle states that the development would not be viable for the supermarket chain without additional operators.

"The site is larger than Aldi‟s requirement therefore for the site to be deliverable the scheme must comprise additional units to the proposed foodstore so that the site can be viable," it says.

"At this stage no end operators have been identified for the additional proposed retail units. It is essential for Aldi that these units become occupied as soon as possible for Aldi to run a profitable operation at Norris Green.

"However, Aldi cannot leave the site lying idle any longer and is keen to start trading in the community.

"Experience by other similar Aldi schemes shows that once the operator begins developing its sites, and sometimes sooner, interested operators ranging from national to independent retailers and other services come forward. Once tenants are identified, a reserved matters application will be submitted so that the rest of the development can be built."