Aldi Store rejected despite land being used to fly-tip

ALDI has failed in a bid to build a supermarket on a plot of land in Birmingham it has owned for 14 years.

The plans for the store in Bristol Road South, in Longbridge, just east of McDonald’s, had the backing of locals with more than 160 people lodging letters in support of it against 19 people against, who said the shop was not needed and would add to traffic problems.

But Birmingham City Council’s planning committee rejected the scheme prompting fears the site, which has been plagued by fly-tipping and travellers, could remain abandoned for another decade.

The council has allocated the plot as a Regional Investment Site more suited to an office-type development and believe the land could be significant towards boosting economic growth in the area.

Officers instead want Aldi to locate a supermarket next to Smyths Toys in the newly developed Longbridge town centre but this has descended into a dispute with the German retail giant which disagrees that it is suitable – even though they admitted to enquiring about the site.

Council officials subsequently argued the supermarket chain was being inflexible.

They recommended the bid for a store at Bristol Road South be refused, a decision agreed bycouncillors on the committee.

But one member, Cllr Gareth Moore, expressed concerns.

He said: “I am surprised this is down for refusal. It has been long neglected for a significant period of time.”