Express & Star

Aldi expansion rejected by Wolverhampton Council

Plans to expand a Wolverhampton supermarket have been rejected by council bosses.

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The Aldi Superstore on Goldthorn Hill, Wolverhampton. Photo: Google

The planning committee at Wolverhampton Council unanimously agreed not to approve plans to expand the Aldi store on Goldthorn Hill at a meeting on Tuesday.

Planning officers advised councillors to deny the German supermarket giants the expansion over concerns about road safety, lack of parking and the demolition of two residential properties.

Had the plans been approved, the retail area would have increased from 940 sq metres to 1,360 sq metres in an effort to improve customer experience, whereas the current car park would have been moved and reduced in size.

Fears from planning officers stemmed from the idea that the car park would ‘completely dominate’ the street and be potentially dangerous, with the store already on the corner of the busy Wolverhampton Road East. Councillor Keith Inston said: “No way can I support it, I’m totally against the loss of two properties, we’re desperate for properties in Wolverhampton.

“We’ve had a lot of these applications in and its about time we listened to residents, I think the officers have been spot on in their report, it would be appalling on Goldthorn Hill, the car park is bad enough as it is and it would only get worse.”

In the end, the council received five objection letters to the proposals and one letter of support.

A spokesman for Aldi, who was present at the meeting, warned that the expansion was necessary and that the future of the store could be in doubt without the expansion.

He said: “The existing store is severely compromised in terms of its day-to-day operation and its ability to meet customer requirements.

“This is due to the age of the building, over 25 years now, and the size and failure to meet standards expected of Aldi’s customers. The site is highly constrained and the decision to demolish two residential properties is the only viable solution.

“The proposed investment in the store is essential to its long term future.”