Aldi reveals timetable for building of new store

WORK will start on Aldi’s new Dundee store later this year, the company has revealed.

The supermarket chain is forging ahead with plans for its new branch following a lengthy application process.

It is hoped construction on the store at Myrekirk will start in the winter, with the shop due to open in 2019.

Bosses have pledged to create 30 jobs, with plans to bring three more stores to the city in the future.

Two separate planning consents were granted for the site but faced a legal challenge from rivals Asda throughout the proceedings.

Action was taken by Asda over the original planning application, which prompted Aldi to take the unusual step of submitting a second bid for planning approval last year.

Aldi is now set to proceed with the development.

A spokeswoman for the discount retailer said: “We are hoping to begin construction of our new Dundee store this winter and plan to open the store in the autumn of next year.

“This will create up to 30 jobs for the community.”

Local councillor Alan Ross said: “It’s definitely welcome news. In an ideal world it would have been up and running sooner but that’s not the fault of Aldi.

“It’s brilliant for the local community in Charleston.

“Aldi gave assurances that 30 new jobs would be created — and that’s after construction.

“A commitment was also made that the majority of these would go to people in the local area.”

Mr Ross previously accused Asda of “total hypocrisy” over its court challenge against Aldi’s application.

Although disappointed about the length of time the project has taken, resident Stella Carrington said she believed Aldi’s arrival will provide a significant boost to Charleston.

She said: “I was a bit concerned about whether or not the store was actually going to go ahead because of the time that it has taken.

“But we’ve been told now that it’s going to be happening in the winter so that’s good.

“We’ve fought long and hard enough to get it.

“It will be great when it opens. It’ll be a great boon to the area and I can’t wait for it to open.”