A NEW supermarket is set to bring a jobs boost as planning officers recommended it for approval.

Councillors are set to discuss a planning application for a 1,804 square metre Aldi superstore at Link Road in Chickerell.

A report by planning officers recommends councillors approve the plan – and says the bid, which could create up to 50 jobs, has been ‘largely welcomed’ by residents.

The application asks for full planning permission for a foodstore, with car parking and landscaping, as well as outline planning permission for 500 square metres of floor space to be used for retail, financial and professional services, a café or restaurant, drinking establishment or hot food takeaway for land to the north of the proposed store.

The report states: “Although no details were given at the application stage for those uses, the applicant has indicated that a complimentary use to the supermarket use such as a coffee shop, public house, or take away could be the potential uses, but at this stage there is no definitive interest.”

DJ Property announced in April this year that Aldi had requested permission for a supermarket on the Link Park site. An Aldi spokesman said at the time that a store would create up to 50 jobs.

Chickerell Town Council welcomed the plans, but said the size ‘could be larger in order to better meet the needs of the Chickerell community’.

Around 40 residents have also submitted comments, many in favour of the plans.
Stephen Makin said it was ‘well-designed’ and an ‘essential step in social planning’ for Chickerell.

And Michele Harding added: “Our family support this application. Living in the outlying villages, to have something this close will be a huge benefit and asset.”

The report notes that some comments by residents raised concerns that hours of delivery be controlled, there may be light pollution and that there should be a gate to prevent people driving around at night when the store is shut.

No objections were brought by the Highways team or Natural England. Environmental Health recommended that hours of delivery be restricted to between 7am and 7pm from Monday to Saturday and from 9am to 4pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

The application will be discussed at a meeting of the planning committee at South Walks House in Dorchester on Thursday at 2.15pm.