Proposals to build a new Aldi supermarket on land off the Formby Bypass have been refused.
Councillors on Sefton Council’s Planning Committee said they were concerned about the store being built so near to the busy road, which would see “Formby bypass become the Formby seizure”.
The application for the new 1,344 sq.m store at the former Porters Fuchsias site, on Moss Side next to Formby Bypass, just outside Southport, would have created 40 new jobs and a car park with 121 parking spaces.
The scheme was part of Aldi’s growing presence in north Sefton, and would have added to existing stores at Meols Cop retail park in Southport, and on Liverpool Road in Birkdale.
It is not yet known whether Aldi will appeal the decision.
The scheme was rejected unanimously at Sefton Council’s Planning Committee at Bootle Town hall last night (Wednesday, 26th July 2023).
Sefton Council’s planning department had advised councillors to reject the plans, arguing that it “would amount to inappropriate development in the Green Belt”.
Aldi had argued that their new store would have created up to 40 new jobs, increased choice and offered shopping at lower prices for people in the Southport and Formby areas.
The proposed new Aldi store in Formby. Image by The Harris Partnership
Dozens of people submitted their views to Sefton’s Planning department, with a split between those opposed and those in favour of the scheme.
The total planning application site totalled 9,849m2 (2.43 acres).
The land previously comprised several glass houses initially used for horticulture, and then for storage.
Permission has previously been granted for seven new homes, and most of the glass houses were demolished in 2021.
At last night’s Planning Committee meeting, concerns were raised about the Formby Bypass 60mph speed limit and the additional traffic the new store coule would create along the road network.
Harington Ward Labour Councillor Carol Richards said: “I was very concerned anyway about the actual safety of the highway and people queuing up to get into the Aldi when the road is normally 60 mph speed limit.
The proposed new Aldi store in Formby. Image by The Harris Partnership
“I think most people would like an Aldi and nobody is against the Aldi itself but my feeling is it’s Harington Ward Conservative Councillor Joe Riley said: “I certainly can tell you as a local councillor that the people who live in that area and up to Southport and Ainsdale would love to have such a new opportunity to buy at a cheaper price their provisions and also encourage competition with existing outlets but the public don’t always get enough opportunity to appreciate the background to it.
“Even more compelling to myself is the problem with traffic congestion. The Formby bypass would become the Formby seizure.”
In the application for Aldi, architects The Harris Partnership Ltd said: “Aldi is able to achieve lower prices through an extraordinarily efficient operation, from the sourcing of its products, to the retail experience in store. In an Aldi store, you will not find 100’s of versions of the same thing.
“Aldi focuses on quality rather than quantity; stocking a range of groceries that includes everything shoppers need, every day of the week. This allows Aldi to get the lowest prices from suppliers – then pass on the savings to customers with quantity discounts.”
In his report, Sefton Council Chief Planning Officer Derek McKenzie said: “The proposal would have a significantly greater impact on the openness of the Green Belt than the existing development and would amount to inappropriate development in the Green Belt failing to preserve Green Belt openness and conflicts with the purposes of including land within it.
“In addition, insufficient information has been provided to demonstrate that the proposed development would not cause harm to highway safety, or that it meets the minimum requirements for accessibility.”
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