Council rejects plans to build Aldi in Bourne
It follows protests from locals
South Kesteven District Council has rejected plans to build a new Aldi in Bourne following numerous objections and protests from local residents.
The council’s Planning Committee scrapped plans for a new branch of the discount supermarket on West Road during a meeting on Thursday due to fears of its impact on nearby woodland.
The new branch, reportedly worth around ÂŁ5 million, was expected to create 40 jobs for the local community. The plans also included creating 127 parking spaces, with four dedicated electric vehicle charging points, and provisions for an additional 22 charging points in the future.
The application garnered over 600 public comments on the council’s planning portal, with some showing their support for the plans.
However, a large number of residents raised concerns about the store’s proximity to Bourne Wood and the potential impact it could have on the natural landscape and habitats.
“There are other areas to the east of Bourne which would be much more suitable and should be considered first,” wrote Barbara Spiller in her objection.
While addressing the Planning Committee, Councillor Helen Crawford (Conservative) maintained that she and the fellow residents of Bourne do not object to the idea of an Aldi supermarket, but simply do not want it built on this particular site.
District and County Councillor Sue Woolley (Conservative) shared this belief, pointing out that Co-op had recently built a store just 12 minutes’ walk away from this site, begging the question as to why this store would be needed.
During its consultation last year, Aldi insisted that it had received positive feedback from local residents but chose to revise certain elements of the plan following these concerns.
Nick Hardy from Avison Young spoke in favour of the application during the meeting, arguing that there would be no direct impact on the ecological habitats in Bourne Woods.