Gwynedd to sign off third Aldi store
Situated less than a mile east of Pwllheli town centre, the discount supermarket would provide a 14,300 sq ft sales area.
Gwynedd County Council is expected to sign off on Aldi’s plans to deliver the store on a five-acre plot off Caernarfon Road at its planning meeting on Monday.
The Harris Partnership has drawn up the plans for the North Wales supermarket, which would have a total floor area of 20,200 sq ft and create an estimated 40 jobs in the local area.
Proposals would also see the speed limit around that section of Caernarfon Road reduced from 50mph to 30mph, as well as new access, a zebra crossing, and a footpath delivered.
Visitors would be provided with 114 car parking spaces, including eight disabled and 12 electric vehicle charging bays. There would also be provision for 14 cycle spaces.
The site is currently used for animal grazing and had been allocated for housing within the Anglesey and Gwynedd Joint Local Development Plan 2011-2026.
However, this site is not viable for housing according to a viability statement submitted by JLL, who also acted as the planning consultant for the project. JLL found that the site was not feasible due to slop, an open land culvert that crosses the land, and the need for deep foundations because of ground conditions.
The scheme is tipped for approval despite some opposition, most notably from rival discount supermarket Lidl, which claims that the Aldi store would pull trade away from the town centre and affect the viability of small rural stores in the area.
Other objections from local residents include flooding concerns and the loss of wildlife.
If approved, this would be the third Aldi store in the county.
Aldi held a consultation on the proposals last July, before submitting its application that October.
In addition to JLL and The Harris Partnership, the project team includes Cameron Rose Associates, Earth Environmental, WaterCo, Cambrian Ecology, Spectrum Acoustics, ACS Consulting, and SWF Consulting.
BWB Consulting is providing air quality expertise. CTM Management is in charge of the construction management plan.
To learn more about the plans, search for application number C22/0969/45/LL on Gwynedd County Council’s planning portal.
