Egremont Aldi plans delayed as impacts on A595 are examined

Aldi lodged a planning application with Cumberland Council for a new food store on land at East Road/Wyndham Place in Egremont earlier this year.

National Highways has since advised that planning permission should not be granted until May to allow Aldi further time to provide details on the impact of the proposals on the A595.

The authority said this is required to ‘ensure the continued safe operation of the road network’.

Cumberland Council, the local highway authority, said it had ‘some reservations’ and highlighted a number of areas which needed further investigation, including details of car parking and pedestrian access from the A595 underpass.

The local highway authority also found the main issue with traffic impact would be on the A595 roundabout. It said this was due to ‘very heavy tidal peak flows on the A595’, as the roundabout is at or near to capacity at certain times of day.

National Highways assistant spatial planner Omar Opoku-Addo said: “We can confirm that, following an application to Cumberland Council for the demolition of existing buildings and development of a food store at Egremont, we have recommended that planning permission is not approved until May 15.

“We remain in close contact with all parties involved and have requested this deferral to allow National Highways and the applicant more time to fully examine the potential safety and congestion impacts of the store on this busy section of the A595, including East Road Roundabout.”

The site which has been earmarked for the supermarket has not been used since 2020, previously serving the community as a petrol station and Ford dealership.

Aldi said a new food store at the site would meet local demand and cut travel times for residents in an area ‘with limited food shopping choice’.

The scheme would provide up to 40 new, full time equivalent jobs.

Egremont Town Council has said overall it supports the plans and believes the store would be an asset to the town.