Aldi, Starbucks planned for Congleton

Clowes Developments has submitted a reserved matters application for phase four of its Viking Park redevelopment to deliver 25,000 sq ft of retail space.

Outline permission was granted for Clowes’ wider masterplan for the 55-acre plot off Viking Way last February. Other phases will provide up to 175 homes, as well as more than 219,500 sq ft of industrial space and 36,800 sq ft of offices.

Whittam Cox Architects designed the latest scheme, which would create 24,700 sq ft of commercial space anchored by a 19,200 sq ft Aldi supermarket.

Proposals also feature a 1,800 sq ft Starbucks drive-thru and an additional 3,700 sq ft retail unit to be built on a speculative basis.

Asteer Planning is the scheme’s planning consultant. Also on the project team is landscape architect TPM Landscaping, transport consultant Hub Transport, and environmental consultant Tyler Grange.

Alice Routledge, partner at Asteer Planning, said: “It has been hugely satisfying to submit this latest reserved matters application for this ever-evolving scheme.

“We have been involved with Viking Park since the submission of the outline planning application in 2020 and have worked closely with Clowes and their professional team to develop plans for each phase of the development.”

To find out more about the plans, search for application number 23/2054C on Cheshire East Council’s planning portal.

Marc Freeman, director of Clowes, commented: “It is great to see things moving so quickly at Viking Park, with this latest application being another significant step in the overall masterplan for the scheme.”

Clowes acquired the Congleton site from Richborough Estates in 2021 for its redevelopment into a mixed-use park.

In May, contractor TanRo started work on a 102,000 sq ft warehouse there.

Plans for the wider masterplan can be found by searching for application number 19/5596C.