Second Aldi store – confusion over when building will begin

MYSTERY surrounds when work will begin on creating a second Aldi store in the town.

When the German discount chain won the right to build a second superstore in Cheltenham, many residents expected the builders to move in very quickly.

But nothing has happened at the site of the proposed shop on land off Grovefield Way in The Reddings since a developer’s planning application was approved on appeal in February.

Hinton Properties (Grovefield Way) Ltd’s plan was not just to build the store but also to build offices and a children’s nursery on the site, which is near the Arle Court Roundabout and BMW garage.

With the land looking pretty much as it did before the plans were approved, the Gloucestershire Echo tried to find out what was holding things up.

We approached Aldi but it told us that the scheme was being led by the developer and so any updates would have to come from it.

But things did not become any clearer when we approached Hinton. We were told the person we needed to speak to was not available.

The planned development at the site had been controversial.

Cheltenham Borough Council turned down the application because of traffic concerns before the Bristol-based Planning Inspectorate gave it the go-ahead.

Its inspector Paul Jackson said there was a great need for more space in Cheltenham to allow businesses to expand and the development planned by Hinton Properties would provide about 1,040 jobs.