New Aldi superstore set for approval

Plans for a new Aldi store in Holbeach look likely to be approved when they are discussed by South Holland District Council planners next week.
An application to demolish existing buildings on the Fleet Street site owned by the district council and replace it with a superstore are recommended to be approved by members of the planning committee.
The new shop will include car parking for 110 vehicles along with an HGV turning area within the site.
A retail impact study concludes that both Tesco and Co-op will be hit with ‘relatively significant’ affects of the new Aldi, which has a projected turnover of £13.85m.
“This assessment shows impacts of 16.5 per cent on the Tesco and 21.1 per cent on the Co-op. As noted previously, while this impact is relatively significant, it is considered that the stores could withstand this level of impact,” says a third party report to committee members.
The application is supported by the parish council and ward district councillors Tracey Carter and Francis Biggadike, with the creation of local jobs and bringing a brownfield site back into use both praised.
Coun Carter has also asked for barriers at the car park which can prevent it being used outside of business hours.
Among objections to the application there were worries about increased traffic levels and potentially more parking on Fleet Street.
But there were also letters of support with more choice for shoppers and bringing in more people seen as potential benefits of the new store. The using of a brownfield site for the development was also backed.
There is also likely to be a legal agreement for a financial contribution of £75,000 towards the cost of delivering initiatives under the Holbeach Cycling and Walking Network Plan.
The store is anticipating the creation of 40 jobs as a result of building the new branch.