PLANS for a new Aldi supermarket in Westlea will be considered by planners next week, with developers given a deadline of next month to finalise the agreement.

The German retail giant is planning its next development with a hybrid scheme, of a new store and 70 homes, 30 per cent of which will be affordable.

It had been hoped details could be finalised by the summer for work to begin on the site, but following delays with completing the legal agreement, and concerns around road infrastructure, the application will now be discussed by the planning committee.

Officers have recommended the application be granted, considering the proposals will not have a detrimental effect on nearby businesses.

However, if the legal agreement is not reached, or a suitable time extension agreed by November 21, the plans may be refused.

Case officer, Heather Carlisle, wrote: “The report highlights that since the economic downturn in 2008 the office marketplace has suffered considerably in Swindon and as such increasing levels of vacant accommodation and weak demand from occupiers.

“The report highlights that all three office buildings on the site are obsolete and vacant, and the reports states the site is not a strategic one both in terms of its size or its location.

“The office market in Swindon is currently oversupplied with available existing building stock and there is approximately seven years’ supply available.

“It is apparent as the site is in close proximity to residential areas so it makes it unsuitable for certain types of employment use.

“Finally, it is considered unviable to refurbish or redevelop the site to other employment uses as the neither the rental nor capital values can sustain this and the report states that this is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future.

“The Impact Assessment shows that the proposed store would draw the majority of its trade from the Asda Store at the West Swindon District Centre and the Sainsburys Store at Bridgemead.

“It has been assessed that the new store would divert 6.1 per cent of trade from the Asda store and 3.3 per cent from the Sainsburys store. The 6.1 per cent trade loss from the Asda store is assessed by the applicant as not being a material impact.

“Officers would disagree and consider that this level would be adverse, but not sufficiently adverse to harm the centre’s continued vitality and viability.”

Kevin Fisher, chairman of the Shaw Residents Association, has said there remain issues which need to be ironed out.

“There are still concerns that the junction is going to be complex, situated as it is close to the island in Shaw Road, which is designed to stop people coming out. That will have to be shortened for truck access to the site.

“The best solution is to use Chelmsford Road as an access point. That is the access road at the moment which used to take you into the site.

“What they have said is that Aldi needs to have its own entrance and Chelmsford Road will be used for residential traffic.

“A viable alternative would be to widen Shaw Road, particularly as traffic volumes will increase, and we believe Cartwright Drive will become more of a rat-run.

“They have said they do not think there is going to be a problem, but we feel there will be increased congestion.”