‘Supermarket wars’ erupt as Lidl and Tesco object to plans for new Aldi

Tesco and Lidl have objected to plans for a new Aldi superstore.

Proposals for the supermarket at the Paragon business park in Horwich are set to go before Bolton council’s planning committee on Thursday, July 18.

The discount supermarket giant intends to build a 1,800 sq ft store, creating between 40 and 50 jobs, on Chorley New Road, close to the notoriously congested Beehive roundabout. Access into proposed supermarket will be from a new slip road entrance on Chorley New Road, near the roundabout.

Vehicles will exit from a different junction onto De Havilland Way, controlled by traffic lights. A 145 space car is proposed with nine parent and child and nine accessible spaces. Four spaces will have electric vehicle charging points with infrastructure built for a further 20. The application has received two petitions of support containing 95 names.

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The council has also received 31 objections citing loss of green space, increased traffic and pollution, flood risk and dangers for pedestrians crossing Chorley New Road. Supermarket rivals Lidl and Tesco, the latter of which has a large outlet nearby at the entrance to the Middlebrook retail park, have both objected to the plans.

Lidl’s objections are based on loss of employment land and potential highways and transport issues. Tesco said there had bee ‘inadequate retail assessment of the impact on Horwich town centre’ and also cited loss of employment land.

Horwich Town Council have raised an objection ‘due to concerns about traffic congestion on Chorley New Road and ‘lack of consultation as it appears only a few households have been consulted’.

Coun David Grant objected to the access along DeHavilland Way due to ‘dangers