Aldi supermarket proposals back on the agenda in Saltash

CONTROVERSIAL plans for a £10 million Aldi supermarket in Saltash will come back under the spotlight next week, as the company prepares to set out its updated proposals and answer questions from councillors and local residents.

Representatives from Cavendish Consulting, acting on behalf of Aldi, will attend an extraordinary meeting of Saltash Town Council’s planning and licensing committee on Tuesday, October 27, to present the latest plans for the Burraton Field site.

The presentation will last up to 20 minutes, followed by a further 20 minutes for public questions, comments and representations.

It will be the latest chapter in a debate that has divided opinion in the town, with Aldi promising new jobs, investment and improved sports facilities, while opponents have raised concerns about the loss of open space and the potential impact on traffic.

There has been relatively little public discussion of the proposals since Aldi’s consultation earlier this year, making Tuesday’s meeting an important opportunity to hear what work has taken place and how the plans have developed.

The consultation, which ran from January 14 to February 4, attracted 1,492 feedback forms.

Of those, 857 respondents said they did not support the proposals in principle, compared with 487 who backed them.

However, opinion was more evenly split when people were asked whether a new Aldi store would benefit the area, with 637 answering yes and 660 saying no. A high number of respondents were also unsure.

A public exhibition at Saltash RFC on January 28 attracted 332 people, while a Facebook advert reached 18,235 people and generated 1,407 clicks through to the consultation website.

The most frequently raised concerns were the loss of open space and the prospect of increased traffic. Local opposition has also been expressed through protests and social media campaigns.

Since the consultation, Aldi says it has undertaken further work alongside pre-application discussions with Cornwall Council, including an independent open space and playing field impact assessment, additional traffic surveys and drainage assessments.

The company has also reviewed existing sports provision and future demand across Saltash, engaging with organisations including Cornwall FA, the Football Foundation, the Rugby Football Union and GLL.

A key part of its updated proposals is how it would compensate for the loss of Burraton Sports Field.

Although the Cornwall Open Space Strategy identifies Saltash as having above-average provision of public outdoor sports facilities and children’s play space overall, Burraton Field itself is not considered surplus to requirements, reflecting its current use and the findings of Cornwall Council’s Playing Pitch Strategy.

Planning policy requires the loss of a playing field to be replaced by equivalent or better provision in terms of quantity and quality, with comparable or improved accessibility for the community.

Aldi says it explored a like-for-like replacement but found suitable land limited. Its preferred option is to invest in a full-size, floodlit 3G pitch for football and rugby at Saltash Community School.

The proposed all-weather facility would be available to pupils during the day and local clubs outside school hours. Aldi estimates the existing Burraton pitch offers around 1.5 hours of weekly match capacity, compared with 34 modelled peak-period hours for a 3G facility.

Warfelton Fields and Saltmill Park were also considered as potential locations.

The benefits of the proposed supermarket will also feature in the discussion. Aldi says the development would represent an investment of more than £10 million, create approximately 40 local jobs and provide a £2 million capital receipt for the council to reinvest in public services.

The plans include 113 free parking spaces, including accessible and parent-and-child bays, four electric vehicle charging spaces and infrastructure for additional chargers.

Aldi anticipates three to four deliveries each day, with vehicle manoeuvring taking place within the site and deliveries scheduled outside peak hours through planning conditions.

Further traffic surveys have also been completed and Cornwall Highways will review the plans and advise whether mitigation measures are needed. Aldi, however, argues that a local store could also reduce the need for some residents to travel to supermarkets further afield.

Although Tuesday’s meeting will not determine a planning application, many feel it will give councillors and residents the chance to question Aldi’s representatives directly about the revised proposals and the issues raised during consultation.

Residents have been asked to submit questions, comments and representations in writing by 9am on Monday, October 26. Additional contributions from the public gallery will be managed at the committee chair’s discretion, with priority given to follow-up questions.

The meeting takes place at Saltash Wesley Church at 6.30pm, with no access to the venue before 6pm. The town council is also working with the church in an attempt to provide a view-only livestream.