New ‘shopping experience’ planned for Middleton

Planning has been submitted for a 16,715 sq ft supermarket and 23,000 sq ft non-food retail unit at Parkfield Industrial Estate in Kemp Street, Middleton, North Manchester.

The scheme is a joint venture between discount food retailer Aldi and Stockport-based Kirkland Developments.

Richard Moffat, director at Lambert Smith Hampton's Manchester office, acting on behalf of Kirkland Developments, said: "This plan has involved consulting with the local residents, the local ward councillor, the police and the Environment Agency as well as working with consultants who have been assessing highways, transport and flood risk. We've even commissioned a bat survey, carried out by the Appleton Group, which has also been advising on landscaping. Our intention has been to tailor the proposed scheme to deliver a development which would benefit all parties involved."

A spokesman for Kirkland Developments said: "We are very pleased to be working with Aldi to replace their current store with a new flagship unit which will be more prominently located and more accessible for their customers.

"In addition, the provision of large scale non-food retailing alongside Aldi brings to Middleton a shopping experience which is not currently located in the town.