Proposed Aldi store in Keynsham is recommended for refusal

Aldi’s plans for a store on the old Brincliffe Nursery site at Bath Road in Keynsham are being recommended for refusal on traffic congestion grounds.

The proposed site for the Aldi store on Bath Road

Officers at Bath & North East Somerset Council are concerned that the store would create “significant queuing”, which would harm the operation of the nearby industrial estate, waste recycling centre and police station, as well as having the potential to harm road safety.

The discount retailer’s scheme will be discussed by councillors at next week’s planning committee meeting.

There would be a pedestrian access direct from the A4 Bath Road, with access for eastbound traffic too, and an all-movements junction constructed from World’s End Lane behind.

There have been objections from Keynsham Town Council, Saltford Parish Council and Avon & Somerset Police, as well as local residents.

Objectors say the A4, Broadmead roundabout, Pixash Lane and World’s End Lane are already heavily congested, with delays worsened by existing development, roadworks, the recycling centre and planned housing growth.

Other factors weighed up by council officers are the impact of the proposed out-of-town supermarket on the town centre, and that the site is designated as part of the Broadmead/ Ashmead/ Pixash industrial estate, but neither are given as reasons for refusal.

The report to the planning committee states that concerns initially raised over the viability and trading performance of the Tesco store in the town centre have been allayed by an up-to-date survey of shopping patterns.

Although it is likely that trade diverted from Tesco to the proposed Aldi would “weaken” the number of linked trips associated with grocery shopping and the rest of the town centre, the report says that Keynsham town centre is in “good health” to withstand that.

The scheme represents a “multi-million-pound investment” in Keynsham which would make a significant contribution towards local economic growth and jobs, the report continues: “Whilst the proposal does not comprise the provision of an industrial use, the site is currently not in productive use and it is recognised that the development would still generate / support a considerable number of jobs.

“For this reason, whilst harm would occur through the conflict with policies, officers are of the view that refusal of the scheme on such grounds would not be warranted.”

There have been 189 comments in favour of the proposed store, with supporters saying it would meet the needs of existing and planned housing growth and reduce the need for longer journeys to stores in Bath, Longwell Green and Brislington.

The planning committee meets at the Guildhall in Bath at 10am on Wednesday, 10th June.

Meanwhile, rival retailer Lidl’s hopes of building a supermarket on the site of builders’ merchants Jewson in nearby Broadmead Lane have suffered another setback.

At the end of April, B&NES Council refused Lidl’s request to demolish two industrial units, citing “insufficient information to assess the likely potential impacts of the proposed demolition on protected species, including bats”.

Lidl promptly put in another application, this time including a preliminary ecological appraisal. However, it was still not enough to satisfy council planners and the demolition request has been turned down again.