Budget supermarket chain Aldi says it is still committed to a new Egremont store despite planning delays.
The firm 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.
It initially lodged a planning application with Cumberland Council in February this year – but has since faced requests to provide more details on how the new store would impact traffic in the area.
Despite the delays – the firm said it remains committed to bringing a new store to the town and is hoping to receive a decision on its plans for the site in the coming months.
An Aldi spokeswoman said: “Aldi has ambitious plans for continued investment across Cumbria, to help meet growing demand from our loyal customer base and improve access to our award-winning low-cost, high-quality products.
“We are committed to serving the community of Egremont and submitted our planning application to Cumberland Council for a new store in February 2024.
“Since the application was submitted, we have been working with Cumberland Council to progress our plans and hope that it will be determined by the Planning Committee in the coming months.
“We are confident that there is demand for a new store in Egremont and believe that our proposals will help to reduce travel times for many of our customers.”
National Highways is recommending that planning permission for the new store should not be approved until November 28, to allow Aldi extra time to examine the potential safety and congestion impacts of the store on the A595.
Cumberland Council’s highways team have 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 plans for the new store have now been on hold for most of the year – which prompted concerns from townsfolk that Aldi were looking at other sites for a new store in Whitehaven, rather than Egremont.
But Aldi said earlier this year it remained committed to both towns and is working on plans for an improved, larger store in Whitehaven as well as a new store in Egremont simultaneously.
If plans are approved by Cumberland Council – who 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 town council added that it would additionally expect Aldi to adopt the town’s underpass and keep it clean, safe and well lit.
