Objections to Aldi store by Love Loughborough
THE Love Loughborough BID has posted a public objection to the building of a second Aldi store in the town.
The bid represents more than 600 businesses in the town centre and has objected to the supermarket plans for Allendale Road.
BID chairman Lez CopeNewman said in a letter to Charnwood Borough Council planning committee that in Loughborough town centre there are other sites that would be more suitable for the supermarket.
He said that this includes the land at Aumberry Gap.
He said that the supermarket would “damage the vitality and viability of Loughborough town centre.”
Plans for the new store were first unveiled in March.
The site, which lies between the A6004 and Allendale Road, would be developed with a new, high quality Aldi food store and several retail units including a coffee shop.
The company told the Echo that the development would represent a significant multimillion-pound investment into the local economy and create around 100 jobs.
Aldi already has a store in Belton Road, Loughborough, and this would be the second in the area.
Mr Cope-Newman’s letter said: “We note that the proposal is well outside the BID area and well outside the defined town centre in the Local Plan and in the Loughborough town centre Masterplan.
“Planning police both nationally and locally seeks to concentrate new retail development in designated town centres to ensure their continued vitality and viability. Sites outside of town centres should only be considered if there is a proved need which cannot be met on a town centre site.
“There are available sites within the town centre including the facility at Aumberry Gao which is indeed designated as an opportunity site for a range of town centre uses including retail.
“We understand that some of the land originally considered is now in the ownership of the county council. The majority of the lands is still owned by a single landowner who is keen to see it developed.
“We believe the borough council should refuse planning permission for this proposal on the grounds that it fails the sequential test and would damage the vitality and viability of Loughborough town centre. The council should assist in bringing the landowners together on the town centre site in order to facilitate its development.”
To view the planning application and objection letter visit the Charnwood Borough Council planning portal and search for application number