Aldi appeals after Wrexham Council sits on new store application for over a year

Aldi has launched an appeal over Wrexham Council’s failure to decide on plans for a new store.

The discount food retailer entered proposals to create a supermarket on around three acres of land at the corner of Gresford Road and the Straight Mile in Llay in July 2019.

The local authority has still yet to come to a conclusion on the application more than a year later and agents acting on behalf of the company said there was no justifiable reason for the delay.

It has resulted in an appeal being lodged with the Planning Inspectorate in a bid to have the process moved forward.

Aldi previously said the scheme would create up to 40 new jobs and provide a modern food store in a convenient location for the village.

The store would be located next to 362 homes which are currently being built as part of the Home Farm development, which was controversially approved on appeal by the Welsh Government.

One bone of contention which has arisen over the development is whether the supermarket firm should be required to take action to mitigate the impact of traffic on the nearby Crown crossroads.

In an appeal statement outlining Aldi’s case, representatives said: “It is the appellant’s position that the proposed development conforms with the elements of sustainable development by providing a facility which will result in sustainable shopping patterns allowing customers to shop locally instead of travelling to other towns outside of the area; and meeting an identified need.

“The development will also be able to respond to growth within the area by providing a convenience retail service which is accessible to the community.

“Whilst it is accepted that the appeal proposal will attract additional vehicles through the Crown crossroads junction, it is considered that these vehicular movements do not give rise to an unacceptable impact on the operational performance of the highway network.

“Furthermore, it can be demonstrated that the operational performance of the highway network remains better than the already accepted performance assessment for the Crown crossroads junction.”

They added: “The appellant has demonstrated a deliverable highway proposal which is not supported by the council.

“All other matters are accepted by the council albeit the application has not been determined. It is the appellant’s view that there is no justifiable planning basis for refusal of the proposal.”

Under the proposals, vehicles would only be allowed to make a left turn into the supermarket from the busy Straight Mile.

The agents said there would also be a speed limit reduction resulting from the neighbouring housing development.

Meanwhile, Aldi has promised to deliver a new bus stop on Gresford Road.

The appeal will be decided by inspectors at a later date.