Aldi submits fresh bid for Longbridge store a decade after original plan rejected
Discount supermarket retailer Aldi has launched a fresh attempt to develop a new store in Longbridge – a decade on from its original scheme being rejected.
The company has submitted plans to Birmingham City Council for a 1,812m² unit with associated car parking on a 0.56 ha site off Bristol Road South.
The plan provides parking for 81 cars, including six parent and child and six disabled parking spaces. Also provided on site would be five motorcycle spaces and eight bicycle spaces, which would be covered under the store entrance canopy.
Aldi said the new store would generate around 26 construction jobs and once open, 40 local retail jobs (22 full-time equivalents).
Aldi acquired the majority part of the site in 2006 and subsequently lodged a planning application for a store with associated car parking.
However, the scheme was refused and the company submitted a further application the following year.
This was again refused on the grounds it was too early in the preparation of the Longbridge Area Action Plan; implemented following the demise of MG Rover. Planners also felt the store would have a detrimental impact on the surrounding area.
The company appealed the decision but this was rejected by a planning inspector who had concerns about the cumulative impact of the scheme, especially considering then permitted developments by Sainsburys at Selly Oak and Tesco in Stirchley, as well as the embryonic status of the site.
In the intervening period, only the Sainsbury’s scheme has progressed.
Aldi is now hoping that with the Longbridge District Centre more established, its application will be considered in a more favourable light.
St. Modwen last month submitted proposals for phase three of the Longbridge town centre scheme, with proposals including a two-storey, nine-screen cinema, a gymnasium and half a dozen new restaurants.
The developer said the intention was to create a ‘leisure quarter’ to help sustain the town centre concept.
