Shropshire Star

Second Aldi planned for Shrewsbury bringing 40 new jobs

Aldi has revealed plans to create 40 jobs with a new store in Shrewsbury – a year after Waitrose shelved its plans for the same site.

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Aldi is planning to build a new store on the outskirts of Shrewsbury

The discount food retailer wants to open its second Shrewsbury store in Oteley Road, in front of Percy Thrower’s Garden Centre. There is already an Aldi in Arlington Way in Harlescott.

Aldi also revealed it is working alongside a partner developer to build a care home which will create another dozen jobs.

Waitrose won planning permission from Shropshire Council to build a 30,000sq ft store on the site more than five years ago and had said it would bring up to 200 jobs to the town.

But the supermarket, which is part of the John Lewis group, became embroiled in a planning row with budget retailer Lidl, which has since built a store further along Oteley Road at the Shrewsbury Town Football Club stadium.

Waitrose scrapped the proposals in October last year, blaming ‘challenging market conditions’.

George Brown, Aldi regional property director, said: “Although the site was granted planning approval for a supermarket several years ago, it has been unoccupied for some time.

"It is time the land was put to good use and, if planning consent is granted, Aldi will create about 40 jobs, with dozens more employed by the care facility.

“Aldi and our development partner are looking forward to presenting our vision for the site to Shrewsbury Town Council.

"We will also be consulting the wider community on our proposal in the near future and look forward to getting residents’ feedback.”

The plans will be shown to the town council on August 28 at 6pm.

Following the presentation and community consultation a planning application will be submitted to Shropshire Council to be determined by the planning committee.