6 days Ago
Plans for a new £10m Aldi supermarket close to a notoriously congested roundabout have re-emerged. Aldi wish to build a 1,800sq/ft store at Paragon Business Park in Chorley New Road, Horwich, close to the Beehive roundabout and Bolton Wanderers ’ Toughsheet Stadium. Access to the new store would be via a new slip road entrance on Chorley New Road, near the roundabout.
Vehicles would exit from a different junction onto De Havilland Way. In November, similar plans were rejected by the council after councillors expressed concerns about traffic and road safety. Aldi said the resubmission of the plans would "seek to address the previous reasons for refusal through expanded and updated technical evidence".
The discount supermarket giant said approval of the plans would mean the creation of 40 to 50 full and part-time local jobs on the site and various other indirect jobs in construction, supply chain and support. They added that they would target construction within 18-months of obtaining planning permission. Planning documents in support of the application said: “Aldi’s very presence is also anticipated to raise the profile of the site, investor confidence, and market interest in the business park during a challenging economic period.
” How the planned new Horwich Aldi would look (Picture: The Harris Partnership) Aldi already operate a store in Horwich, less than a mile away from the proposed new location at Mason Street. The firm said: "Aldi can confirm that the introduction of a new store on the planning application site will have no implications for the retailer’s ongoing operation in Horwich town centre, which they consider serves a different catchment area.” The scheme would provide 131 car parking spaces at the site.
A design and access report in support of the plans said: “The proposed orientation of the building creates a strong retail frontage running parallel to De Havilland Way, drawing and directing people into the site from the main pedestrian access from Chorley New Road. “The store frontage is orientated in order to allow the car parking to be located at the front of the store entrance.” Council planners will decide on the proposals in the coming weeks.
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