Aldi’s planned new March store looks set to get the greenlight

Plans for another supermarket in March look set for approval despite a a huge public response and objections from competitors.

Fenland District Council’s planning committee are being asked to approve plans for an Aldi supermarket with car park and highway works including new traffic lights at the junction of Hostmoor Avenue and the A141.

The supermarket chain are looking to build the 1,804sqm store, which will have 1,315sqm of retail space, on a site at 1-3 Hostmoor Avenue – within a stone’s throw of the existing Tesco store.

A report to Wednesday’s (26) meeting explains the development will require the demolition of the existing buildings on the site and a new access arrangement off Hostmoor avenue.

There will be a restricted left-turn only exit from the supermarket site so drivers wanting to join the A141 will have to do a u-turn around the existing Tesco roundabout.

New traffic lights at the Hostmoor Avenue junction with the A141 are proposed to help mitigate the impact of the supermarket on the highway network.

The report says however Aldi may be asked to make a financial contribution of £250,000 towards the junction works, instead of the traffic lights, depending on what is decided by Cambridgeshire County Council and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority in terms of the March Area Transport Study (MATS), which is currently being developed.

Officers say the supermarket will contribute towards the economic growth of March, including job creation of up to 50 posts, “without undue adverse impacts upon the vitality of March town centre”.

It would also help retain spending within the local economy and offer shoppers an increased choice.

The report goes on: “The visual impacts of the development are considered to be acceptable, and the proposal would make a positive contribution to character and appearance of the area. There are no other adverse environmental impacts arising which cannot be addressed.”

And it concludes: “In relation to transportation impacts, with the proposed junction improvements, satisfactory provision has been made for pedestrians and whilst the traffic impacts are not completely mitigated, the impact will not be severe, and it will be no worse than with the present junction arrangement.”

March Town Council have backed the plans but want to see the junction and highways works carried out prior to construction.

However, local councillor Steve Count, who was among those to previously have commented on the application, agrees the plans does have benefits, but also says there are dis-benefits in equal measure fo the people of March.

He said: “For that reason I had tried to let planning process run its due course without comment.”

But then goes on: “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.”

He was not alone in speaking out against the plans.

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.

Rival Tesco have also objected and listed a host of reasons why Aldi should be refused. These included: "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".

Whilst most of the statutory bodies either recommend approval with conditions or had no comment to make there have been 18 objections from 13 individuals (that include the above) raising concerns largely about road safety, the traffic lights and the use of the roundabout.

However, there have also been 84 representations of support with new employment, improving the town, more competition for existing supermarkets and regeneration of a brownfield site among the positives highlighted.

The report concludes with recommending the application be approved with a number of conditions attached