Aldi plans for March set to go before Fenland planning committee

Plans for another supermarket in March have sparked a huge response from the public and competitors alike as proposals are set to go before Fenland's planning committee within the next couple of months.

Aldi announced plans to build a new branch in the town back in November 2020 when it launched a survey asking people if they would like the chain to open a store.

Since then there has been little movement on the proposals, even though Aldi submitted a full planning application in July 2021, and the application and its associated documents were posted on the council's planning portal earlier this year.

There are nearly 240 documents relating to the application. Many are comments from the public with mixed views on whether or not the store, which is expected to create up to 50 new jobs, is welcome.

Among the prime objectors is the developer of the nearby planned Westry Retail Park and leading supermarket competitor Tesco.

Even local councillor Steve Count has waded into the fight and has come out against the application.

Planning Potential, which is acting for Aldi, explains the supermarket firm is looking to make a multi-million pound investment on a brownfield site, which is currently occupied by three warehouse units, off Hostmoor Avenue/Martin Avenue, which will not only include the store but also a "comprehensive package" of off-site highways works agreed with the county's Highways and includes the introduction of traffic lights at the Hostmoor junction with the A141 Wisbech Road.

It is the traffic management plans that concerns Coun Count.

He said: "This is an application that has benefits and dis-benefits in almost equal measure for the people of March. For that reason I had tried to let planning process run its due course without comment.

"However, I am involved with the March Area Transport Study (MATS) and have had concerns, that remain unaddressed regarding the new junction layout.

"Aldi's traffic light solution (with no right turn to Wisbech) has been accepted by Highways as acceptable. I cannot agree. Increasing traffic on the Peas Hill roundabout and forcing those wishing to go towards Wisbech, all the way around, is unacceptable. Vehicles at present can barely get on the roundabout from Turves arm as it is, let alone without a major increase in traffic.

"The MATS solution, traffic lights including a right handed turn are, I believe, acceptable. However, without control of the land this could take years to achieve. So the residents of March may be asked to put up with congestion for years whilst this is ultimately resolved.

"As there seems to be no definite solution forthcoming despite numerous meetings and emails I find myself in the position of having to regretfully object to this application."

He is not alone in raising concerns about the highways proposals.

Brossman Mills Ltd, which is behind plans for a hybrid development (Westry Retail Park) including five retail units (Class A1), and two drive-thru restaurants/coffee shops (Class A3/A5) on the opposite side of the A141/Wisbech Road, has also voiced concerns over the plans for the junction.

That application was approved in August 2016 and included a roundabout for its access - which would also serve Hostmoor Avenue - something which was welcomed in an officer's report to Fenland's planning committee when it was discussed by councillors.

The report told councillors: "The proposed roundabout to replace the existing T-junction which serves Hostmoor Avenue is an aspiration within the March Market Town Transport Strategy and is identified as only being possible through developer funding.

"Whilst the provision of this new roundabout is necessary in order to make the development acceptable it would also provide wider highway benefits, as confirmed by the county council Highways team, to the free flow and safety of traffic on the local highway network. It therefore constitutes a significant benefit of the development and adds weight in support of the proposal."

Contour Planning, which acts for Brossman Mills, has also queried an assessment of the possible impact of the Aldi store on March town centre and argues it does not paint an accurate picture. An original objection pointed out that a report looking at the cumulative impact of the store on the town centre had ignored the Westry Retail Park on the grounds the hybrid proposals are "unlikely to be built", while the supermarket would go ahead.

Since then a new cumulative impact report has been submitted but Contour Planning still argue it is not giving an accurate figure and the town centre is likely to be much more adversely affected than is being stated.

A view seconded by Tesco in their objection to Aldi's plans.

The supermarket giant has listed a host of reasons why the Aldi store should be refused including "errors in the assessment of the cumulative impacts", lack of an "up to date health check of town centres", and failure to "consider impacts of the proposal on the regeneration strategy for March town centre".

A design and access statement drawn up by Planning Potential claims around a third of the 1,600 people who responded to the firm's pre-application consultation said they already shop at an Aldi store, with the one in Chatteris attracting the most of these.

"This leakage of expenditure," said the statement, "out of the local catchment area to Aldi stores is despite the existence of a Lidl store in March, demonstrating the strong Aldi brand and that residents are happy to travel significant distances to obtain food shopping choice. As such there is clearly an opportunity to deliver further food shopping choice to the north of the town."

A council spokesperson confirmed: "The planning application for Aldi at Hostmoor (F/YR21/0885/F) is expected to go to committee in March or April."