Aldi tries again in Bolton
Refused consent in November, the discount grocer has reworked proposals for a store close to Bolton Wanderers’ Toughsheet Community Stadium in Horwich.
Aldi wants to build within a corner of the Paragon business park at the roundabout where Chorley New Road meets De Havilland Way, but the supermarket group’s initial proposal met with rejection on three grounds at its first attempt last year.
Each of these cited non-compliance with Greater Manchester’s Places for Everyone planning framework: namely adding to traffic congestion, causing a significant loss of biodiversity, and leading to increased flood risk. Members voted unanimously, in the face of officer recommendation.
Working with regular partners in planner Avison Young and architect The Harris Partnership, Aldi has revisited its plans for the site.
Work required at the site includes the part-demolition of an under-used office block annexe, and the resurfacing and realignment of 101 parking spaces for the business park. The foodstore itself requires 131 parking spaces.
Typically for Aldi, the store building is proposed at around 19,400 sq ft with a sales area of 14,000 sq ft. The site is described as a five-minute drive from Junction 6 of the M61.
In its covering letter, Avison Young said: “The site’s potential for redevelopment is self-evident. It is situated in a prominent location immediately west of the Beehive Roundabout. The land is underutilised, having been unsuccessfully marketed for development by the business park owners for a period of some 10 years.
“Accordingly, despite its allocation for ‘employment’ uses in the adopted Local Plan, the site currently contributes nothing to the local economy and is therefore ripe for redevelopment. The significant investment proposed by Aldi will provide the opportunity to bring the site into beneficial use through the provision of a modern, accessible discount foodstore which is proportionate to the future needs of eastern Horwich.”
There will be no impact on Aldi’s other Horwich store, it was added.
AY said that the resubmission comes with expanded and updated technical evidence, while also demonstrating the acceptability of the scheme in relation to all other planning matters.
The Harris Partnership’s design & access statement said that the scheme will have formal landscaping, stating that “a considered landscaping scheme composed of ornamental trees and native species” will be added to soften the appearance of the car park. New shrubbery will be introduced.
Transport elements of the project include a new access to the proposed store from the Beehive roundabout adjacent to the Chorley New Road northbound exit; a signalised left-only egress onto De Havilland Way from the store, and access to Paragon Business Park via a modified entrance which features a left-only access and egress via Chorley New Road.
The professional team also includes Cameron Rose Associates on transport, Hydrock now Stantec on flood risk and drainage, BWB, NSL, SOL Environmental, Bowland Tree Consultancy and Earth Environmental.
Aldi’s resubmission can be seen on Bolton Council’s planning portal, reference 20163/25.
There’s a Aldi around a mile away
….pure greed…
By Anonymous