Date set for approval of new supermarket in Amersham

Aldi is set to open a new supermarket in Amersham as a date has been set for the approval of its plans.

The German supermarket giant plans to build its latest branch at 44 London Road West – the site of the old Jaguar garage.

Aldi’s application for planning permission for the new supermarket will be determined next week on Tuesday, May 28 at 6:30pm.

Planning officers have recommended that councillors on the east Buckinghamshire area planning committee defer the application to the planning director to grant permission.

Aldi’s plans went before the committee for the first time in April, but members voted to postpone their decision so that issues with the new supermarket could be ironed out.

Councillors said they wanted:

1. To consider a planning condition to restrict HGV movements within the site to reduce conflict with customers and cars during the day.
2. Aldi to revisit the design of the building, specifically addressing the use of materials on the outside of the supermarket.
3. Planning officers to re-visit a condition to shorten the delivery and waste collection period at the supermarket by one hour from 11pm to 10pm.
4. Aldi to look at the provision of a ‘left hand turn only’ exit in order to prevent potential ‘traffic conflicts’.

Aldi said its new food store would be open from 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and from 10am to 5pm on Sundays.

The supermarket would have warehouse space and staff accommodation on the first floor above a ground-level shopfloor of 1195m2.

The car park will provide a total of 101 customer spaces, including five disabled bays and five for parents and children.

There will also be cycle parking, as well as four electric vehicles charging parking spaces, with infrastructure installed for the conversion of a further 19 such spaces in the future.

One of the existing vehicle entrances to the site will be maintained, while another will be closed off, according to Aldi’s plans.

Meanwhile, a pedestrian footpath is proposed along the front of the site, with a pedestrian entrance adjacent to vehicle entrance.

More than 1,500 letters of support have been received for Aldi’s plans – although many are very brief and submitted on photocopied forms, with some from people who live outside of Amersham.

One recent letter from Osman Peermamode read: “A shop is better than an empty derelict site as it is now. A new grocery store brings more choices and healthy competition to the area especially in these times of austerity.

“A new shop like Aldi will also bring more jobs to the area. The council should listen to the local people and side with majority and allow Aldi to open.”

In another letter, Kevin Parsons said he was in favour of an Aldi being built on the site of the old garage.

But he also added: “The design of any structure on this site must fit in with the conservation principles laid down 30 plus years ago by the Chiltern District Council.”