Trees saved as Whitehall refuses Aldi store plans

SUPERMARKET chain Aldi’s appeal to build a store on the edge of a city nature reserve have been refused by a Government inspector.

Planning inspector Hayden Baugh-Jones ruled the proposed store in Old Horns Crescent, Great Barr, would cause harm to the area – including the Queslett Nature Reserve.

He concluded: “Whilst the proposal would provide a number of benefits, these would not, either singly or collectively, outweigh the clear identified harm to the area’s character and appearance through the unacceptable design of the development and the loss of protected trees. Consequently, the appeal does not succeed.”

He was particularly concerned about the loss of trees which he said make “a positive contribution to the local environment”.

Aldi had launched the appeal after the city council’s planning committee rejected the application in February 2017.

The plan included felling 64 mature trees as well as the loss of some open space for which the firm offered some investment in the Nature Reserve and some replacement trees to compensate.

As well as defending the trees, Mr Baugh-Jones agreed with the council that the store was poorly designed, with its back facing the main Queslett Road dual carriageway. His decision follows a public inquiry at the start of May and means Aldi has to go back to the drawing board.

Counclllor Keith Linnecor (Lab, Oscott) said: “I regret that it had to come to this and Aldi could not compromise to address the concerns of local wildlife enthusiasts. Hopefully now a better development for the site which works with the nature of the area will come forward. I would suggest that Aldi might want to look for a more suitable site elsewhere in the area, perhaps the Kingstanding shopping precinct.”

Brenda Wilson of the Friends of Queslett Nature Reserve welcomed the decision and praised the inspector for his handling of the inquiry.