New Aldi ‘show of confidence’ for Halton
ALDI in Widnes town centre is to be bulldozed and replaced by a bigger store in what one planning chief called “a show of confidence” for Halton.
The council’s development management committee approved proposals by the supermarket giant to demolish the existing store on Green Oaks Way, and replace it with a newer building which is 400sqm larger.
The current Aldi opened its doors in 1996 but the company wants to build an updated store similar to its other Widnes supermarket off Derby Road, with the £4.1million project due to get underway in September.
Addressing the committee at Runcorn Town Hall, Joanna Gabrilatsou of planning consultants JLL, said: “The current store is a first generation store, it’s small, tired and unable to meet the expectations of customers. Demolishing and rebuilding the store will provide a fit-for-purpose modern store for the local community.”
She added: “The application also demonstrates Aldi’s commitment to Widnes, investing £4.1 million into the site, retaining all 24 staff and recruiting 10 additional staff.”
The plans also include more disabled and cycle spaces as well as four electric charging points with the capacity to increase to 20.
With 900 stores, Aldi is the UK’s fifth biggest supermarket chain and recently announced it was eyeing up 16 areas across Cheshire for new stores, with Runcorn and Widnes among them.
But a report to the committee said it was unable to find another suitable location in Widnes town centre, opting instead to rebuild on its existing site.
Committee member Cllr Rob Polhill told the meeting: “This is really good news and shows confidence in Halton.
“Aldi could just sit back and take the money, it’s trading well that store, so for them to do this I think it’s a good show of confidence in the borough.”