Whitehaven and Egremont Aldi plans set to be approved by council

Aldi’s plans to create a larger store on Preston Street in Whitehaven and to build a new store on the former East Road Esso garage site in Egremont will go before Cumberland Council’s planning committee on Wednesday.

Aldi said it was ‘delighted’ that Cumberland Council had recommended approval for two new ‘high-quality’ food stores in the two neighbouring towns.

The proposals have been welcomed by community leaders who believe the new supermarkets will be an asset to the towns and will boost local trade.

Plans for the Egremont store were delayed earlier this year while the potential impacts on traffic were considered and Aldi was given more time to provide details on the effect the scheme would have on the A595.

Aldi say the plans for both stores will provide a combined investment of £14million into the local economy and will create up to 50 new, full-time equivalent jobs for local people, along with the retention of staff at the existing Whitehaven store.

There will also be additional employment opportunities during construction of the stores and in the supply chain, the supermarket giant said.

The proposed new Aldi store in Egremont (Image: Aldi)

A spokesperson for Aldi, said: "We're delighted that officers have recommended approval for both stores. We have worked closely with officers and amended both schemes in light of comments received from Cumberland Council Highways and National Highways to develop schemes that are fit for purpose.

“We submitted our applications to Cumberland Council for Whitehaven and Egremont in 2023 and 2024 respectively, following extensive community consultation. We were encouraged by the level of support for both stores with over 90 per cent of respondents expressing support for the developments.

“Subject to members of the planning committee agreeing with their officers, we look forward to being part of the community in the near future.”

Charles Maudling, chair of the Whitehaven and District Chamber of Trade, said: “I’m all for them. The Whitehaven one has been going on for a while. I’m pleased to see it’s nearly over the line.

“The store will be an asset to the town. It’s a major investment let's other businesses see money invested in the town, plus extra workforce and will tidy up that site.

“It’s also a huge investment for Egremont on an eyesore site and major employment for the area. I’m looking forward to both getting started.”

Edwin Dinsdale, who represents Whitehaven Central South on Whitehaven Town Council, said: “I fully support the proposed Aldi store at Preston Street. This development will bring more choice for the consumers and create some very much needed jobs for Whitehaven.

"Aldi did address Whitehaven Town Council and the presentation was very well received. All councillors who attended the meeting fully supported the project.”

Michael McVeigh, deputy chairman of Egremont Town Council, said: “Egremont Town Council have supported this application since its first presentation.

“We don’t feel like it would damage other trade – we feel like it would bring trade into the town, being where it is.  People will maybe drop in and look at other shops. We welcome it.

“Aldi are recognised as a good company to work for and most of the employees in Whitehaven have been with them for a long time.

“We tolerate the A595 with Sellafield [traffic] for a long, long time and so be it – people are going to meaningful work. I have no concerns about traffic at all.

“We assume if the officers have recommended it after the concerns that the planning committee would be supportive of the officers’ recommendation.”

Anyone who would like to find out more details about Aldi’s proposals can contact a member of the project team on the Freephone information line, 0800 298 7040, or email feedback@consultation[1]online.co.uk.