Gateway ajar for a new Aldi store at retail park

PLANS to build a new Aldi store in Farnborough’s Blackwater Shopping Centre, known locally as Farnborough Gate, have been recommended for approval by Rushmoor Borough Council officers.

The discount supermarket chain originally pulled out of plans to move into the site on the day of a borough council planning committee meeting on January 15 after proposals were recommended for refusal – largely due to concerns over parking and a possible alternative site being identified.

However, Aldi resubmitted plans on February 24 for units 2A and 3 to be refurbished, amalgamated and converted into the food store along with an adjoining café.

The two units were made available after Halfords relocated to another unit within the retail park and Next Clearance announced it would close and rely solely on the Next store at nearby The Meadows in Sandhurst.

Sites within Solartron Retail Park, where a new Lidl is now set to be built, Kingsmead and the Civic Quarter were all considered by Aldi. It doubled down on the Farnborough Gate site though after presenting a letter to the borough council detailing why the alternatives were unsuitable.

To negate concerns over a lack of parking at the retail park and issues over the volume of traffic at the Bradfords Roundabout, the plans include widening vehicle access to provide twin exit lanes out of the area.

A new paved area will also be built with trolley storage bays and cycle parking. However, this is projected to lead to the loss of 17 car park spaces.

Aldi said earlier this year it projected that the new store will create 50 jobs locally and investment in Rushmoor in excess of £2 million.

A final decision will be made on the proposals at a borough council development management committee meeting today (Wednesday).

A total of 38 public comments have been made on the application to date, of which 33 have been in favour.

Aldi and the borough council have been contacted for comment.