Aldi told ‘look at Booths’

Aldi bosses have been urged to look at the Booths site in Highfield Road, rather than developing a new store nearby

Blackpool Council’s planning committee has deferred making a decision on whether to approve an application for an Aldi on Squires Gate Lane industrial estate.

Councillors have asked the applicant to consider the Booths site instead because it is more closely linked to existing shopping areas and has better public transport links.

The committee, which met this week to consider the Aldi application, is also concerned about the impact a store on Squires Gate Lane would have on existing shopping centres, due to the fact planning permission is already in place for a discount food store on the Westgate House site, also on Squires Gate Lane.

A letter to Blackpool Council confirms the Booths site is available for redevelopment once the store closes on August 21, replaced with a new store in St Annes.

Agent Robert Pinkus and co says in the letter that Booths “consider that the site is ideally located for a discount food operation and our marketing is being targeted to that end.”

Gary Johnston, head of planning at Blackpool Council, said after the meeting: “The application was deferred to go back to a subsequent meeting of the planning committee.

“The Booths store is closing and in our view that site is sequentially more preferable because it has links to the Highfield Road centre and is better served by public transport.”

Aldi is already building a new store at Oxford Square.

The Squires Gate Lane scheme would involve the demolition of an existing warehouse.

In its application, Aldi says the site “is in a prominent position off Squires Gate Lane within an existing retail park,” and adds it, “also benefits from an accessible location with significant existing infrastructure and provides a suitable opportunity for retail led regeneration to serve the local community.

“The site is ideally located to serve the needs of local residents within a walking catchment and vehicular catchment area which will enhance the local area.”

The application is expected to go back before the committee on September 8.