New Aldi store proposed for Burnley

AN East Lancashire town looks set to get a new Aldi supermarket on a gateway site to its historic centre.

The German discount chain proposes to build the 1,315 square metre store on the car park of the Chorley Nissan dealership in Westgate, Burnley.

If its planning application is approved by councillors on Thursday it will create between 40 and 50 new jobs and lead to the closure of Aldi’s existing smaller premises in Burnley’s Canning Street.

The firm will also create a new 141 space car park for the car dealership.

Aldi originally applied for planning permission in April 2022 but in August withdrew the application to amend the design to ensure it provided a ‘high-quality’ building which blended in to the character of the adjacent conservation area around the nearby Leeds/Liverpool.

Now Burnley Council’s development control committee has been recommended to approve the final scheme, submitted in March last year, with 36 conditions.

An officer’s report reveals 43 letter of support have been received from local householders highlighting the convenience of having a food store on the west side of the town centre.

The application is being debated by councillors as the land is currently allocated for employment creation and because of the historic nature of surrounding buildings.

The planning officer’s report says: “The application site is irregular in shape, following in part the former built-up area of

terraced housing demolished in the early 1970’s.

“It borders the Canalside Conservation Area and is in close proximity to Grade II listed buildings at Belle Vue Mill, Belle Vue Terrace and Burnley House.

“The proposed foodstore is a regular-shaped building, designed to provide the general format of an Aldi store.

“Proposed store opening hours are typical of Aldi stores: 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

“It is accepted this gateway location requires a high-quality development and there are abnormal costs due to the site’s historic uses and coal mining legacies that weigh against the viability for a small-scale employment development.

“The proposal would still generate some employment benefits

“The design has been amended to respond to respect the distinctive character of the Canalside Conservation Area and setting of listed buildings.

“The large scale, massing and form of the proposed foodstore is not dissimilar to the form of an historic weaving shed.

“The benefits of a high-quality development to enhance the gateway to Burnley Town Centre and the setting of the Canalside Conservation Area in particular, would outweigh the more limited harm to the supply of employment sites in the Burnley area.”