Plans for a new Aldi store in West Cumbria have been delayed while traffic concerns are examined.
Aldi initially lodged a planning application with Cumberland Council earlier this year. The company is aiming to obtain permission to build a new supermarket on the site of the former East Road Garage in Egremont, next to the A595.
Several consultee organisations have since responded to the plans – with both National Highways and the Environment Agency lodging objections and requests for further examination before permission is granted.
National Highways is recommending that planning permission for the new store should not be approved until May 15 – to allow Aldi extra time to examine the potential safety and congestion impacts of the store on the A595.
National Highways assistant spatial planner, Omar Opoku-Addo, said: “We can confirm that, following an application to Cumberland Council for the demolition of existing buildings and development of a food store at Egremont, we have recommended that planning permission is not approved until May 15.
“We remain in close contact with all parties involved and have requested this deferral to allow National Highways and the applicant more time to fully examine the potential safety and congestion impacts of the store on this busy section of the A595, including East Road Roundabout.”
Cumberland Council’s highways team also flagged several areas for further examination – including car parking provision, bike provision and pedestrian access from the A595 underpass.
Highways additionally flagged that Aldi’s initial transport assessment has not been modelled around the ‘very heavy’ traffic that the roundabout currently experiences at peak times during the day.
It said that the roundabout and its links can be at or near capacity at certain times during the day and that the current transport assessment has only accounted for an uplifted 2024 scenario that would work with minimal queueing.
The Environment Agency has also raised concerns regarding a risk of controlled waters becoming contaminated during construction.
It said that the previous use of the site as a fuel filling station and garage was the root cause of the potential contamination risk and that Aldi would need to provide information to show that the risk has been fully understood and can be addressed through appropriate measures.
If planning permission is granted by Cumberland Council, who will make the final decision on the application – the new Aldi will be a £6 million investment into the area and will provide a total of 40 full-time and part-time jobs.
Egremont Town Council has also responded to the plans and said it was in overall support of the new business and that it would be an asset to the town.
The council added that it would additionally expect Aldi to adopt the underpass and keep it clean, safe and well lit.
