Permission has been granted to demolish the Aldi store in Cliftonville and build an improved, larger store with more parking spaces.
Thanet council gave approval last week for the planning application from the food chain. Aldi says the current building is dated, having first opened in 1998, and is smaller than up-to-date store requirements.
In the application Aldi says redevelopment will mean the continued presence in Zion Place, off Northdown Road, and the safeguarding of 50 local jobs.
The discount retailer previously extended the store in 2013 but says larger aisles, more tills and increased display space are now needed.
The redevelopment will also include 97 parking spaces, five of which will be for staff, including 10 parent and child spaces. This is an increase of 12 spaces on those currently provided.
Other sites were considered for relocation, including the former Primark and Woolworth buildings in the High Street but Aldi said remaining in Northdown Road was the preferred option.
The statement adds: “The proposals represent a significant, multi-million pound investment which will retain Aldi’s in Margate, maintaining the economic contribution of the site and retaining local jobs, while improving retail choice and competition locally.”
The current timing for the store closure and timescale for the redevelopment has not yet been released.
An Aldi spokesperson said: “We are pleased our Zion Place store in Margate has been granted planning permission. We will update the community on our plans to start the work, and timings for completion, in due course.”
I wouldn’t class Aldi as a discount store, their prices on a lot of stock are dearer than Tesco’s.
It must be difficult to make more space for shop and car park on the same piece of land. The image shown makes it looks similar in size to what it already is.
I would hope Aldi remove the controversial car park cameras hovering over the exit that automatically gets you fined if you spend a second over the time limit in the shop but won’t hold my breath on that one.
What is the time limit on the car park ? (One and a half hours ?)
How can anyone loiter in the Aldi store for more than an hour and a half hours ? There is no cafe or restaurant to pass the time. Anyone who spends more than an hour and a half shopping in a relatively small store clearly has too much time on their hands !