East Surrey to get its first Aldi after decision overturned
Aldi could still beat Lidl in the race to open a Caterham store, after a government inspector approved plans for a Croydon Road application. With its appeal granted, the budget supermarket chain hopes to be open in 18 months, aiming to start construction works “imminently”.
Further down Croydon Road, work on a Lidl store, as well as 48 homes, has been delayed after various problems have stalled building work which began in 2018[1]. Tandridge District Council’s planning committee rejected Aldi’s application in August 2022 amid concerns about “traffic chaos” outside the store.
A Waitrose[2] representative also attended one planning meeting to raise concerns about the future of the town centre if the Aldi store were to be built. But the government inspector who granted Aldi’s appeal, Thomas Hatfield, said the layout of the car park at the planned store would reduce queuing at the entrance.
Conditions on the application also mean that deliveries can only be made outside of pick up and drops off times at Marden Lodge Primary School which is opposite the store. Aldi[3] now hopes to open its first East Surrey store within 18 months.
Richard Khodabakhsh, the retailer’s estate director, said: “Aldi are delighted with the outcome and pleased that the merits of the scheme have been recognised. Our proposal[5] has been very popular with residents, with over 70 per cent voicing support.
“We now look forward to delivering our store as soon as possible, bringing improved choice and access to high-quality affordable essentials to Caterham[6].” Mr Hatfield looked at parking concerns as part of his decision, and found that demand for car parking spaces could exceed the 64 provided on Sunday afternoons, by one.
He added: “However, this exceedance would be minor and at a time when the school opposite is closed.” The inspector said the store was “unlikely to attract customers from a significantly wider catchment area” because it was close to other outer London stores including in Selsdon and Coulsdon[7].
The chair of the district council’s[8] planning committee, Councillor Claire Blackwell, said: “We are disappointed with the inspector’s decision given the unacceptable traffic conditions on Croydon Road, Caterham and that the proposals represent a cramped over development of the site.”
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References
- ^ which began in 2018 (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
- ^ Waitrose (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
- ^ Aldi (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
- ^ Bid to build Aldi in one of Surrey’s most affluent villages fails (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
- ^ Our proposal (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
- ^ Caterham (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
- ^ Coulsdon (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
- ^ district council’s (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
- ^ here. (data.reachplc.com)