Tesco and Aldi have both contacted Sefton Council in recent days urging them to refuse permission for the multi-million pound The Point development next to Formby Bypass, which would see the creation of a new M&S Foodhall, a Lidl supermarket and a business park .
Sefton’s Planning team are urging councillors to support the proposals when they come before the Planning Committee at Bootle Town Hall this evening (Wednesday 16th September 2026).
The 31.35-acre The Point scheme by Sefton and Formby Developments Limited would create “substantial employment opportunities” for the area.
Read More: Aldi submits plans to build its third supermarket in Southport creating 40 new jobs
It would also include a new medical facility; small-scale business starter units; co-working spaces; light industrial facilities; and new research and development hubs.
Local residents could also see a Costa Coffee drive-through and another drive-through, and a new junction off Formby Bypass.
Sefton’s Planning officers are advising councillors to approve the plans, saying “the principle of development is accepted”, and that “there will be no severe adverse impacts on Formby District Centre”.
The development would be built to the north of the existing Formby Industrial Estate and to the eastern side of the A565 Formby Bypass.
The 2,185 sqm Lidl store would be served by a 123 space car park.
The 2,006 sqm M&S Foodhall would offer 178 customer car parking spaces and an additional 11 car parking spaces for staff.
Additionally, it would feature a 167 sqm Costa drive-thru, as well as a second 295 sqm drive-thru.
The first phase also incorporates a 1,033 sqm community medical facility, addressing local health needs.
In recent days both Tesco and Aldi have contacted Sefton Council to object to the scheme.
Earlier this year, Aldi submitted a full planning application to Sefton Council to build a new 1,881 sq m supermarket at the Sandbrook Way local centre in Ainsdale, creating 40 new jobs.
Avison Young, on behalf of Aldi, revealed Aldi is concerned about the impact that new stores in both Woodvale and Formby would have on Formby town centre and Ainsdale Village centre.
They wrote: “Whilst the Land North of Formby Industrial Estate and Sandbrook Drive planning applications do not serve the exact same catchment areas, both applications would divert trade from some of the same centres. Both proposals would divert trade from Formby district centre and from Ainsdale local centre.
“In this context, we have reviewed the Officer’s report for the 16 September 2026 planning committee and note that it does not address the matter of cumulative impact and, specifically, whether both the Land North of Formby Industrial Estate and Sandbrook Drive proposals could both be implemented without any unacceptable town centre impacts arising.
“At the time of writing, it therefore remains a possibility that the Council could decide that only one of the abovementioned application proposals should be granted planning permission due to cumulative retail impacts arising from both.
“In such circumstances, it would be necessary for the Council to consider the merits of both proposals (with reference to their wider benefits and impacts) and undertake a comparative assessment to decide which should be granted planning permission.
“Given the above, it would be premature and potentially prejudicial for the Council to determine the Land North of Formby Industrial Estate planning application in advance of it establishing its clear position in respect of cumulative impacts should this development come forward in tandem with the Sandbrook Drive proposal.
“It remains Aldi’s case that both the Land North of Formby Industrial Estate and Sandbrook Drive proposals can be accommodated without any unacceptable impacts arising in Formby district centre and Ainsdale local centre.
“However, until this is accepted by the Council, then it is premature to determine the Land North of Formby Industrial Estate application in isolation.”
In their report, Sefton’s Planning officers said: “The proposal will not have a significant adverse impact on the vitality and viability of Formby District Centre or other nearby identified centres, it will not increase the risk of flooding to or from the site, whilst ecological impacts can be appropriately mitigated.
“It is considered that the proposal complies fully with the aims and objectives of the Sefton Local Plan, the Formby and Little Altcar Neighbourhood Plan and as such should be granted consent.”
In their planning application, on behalf of Sefton and Formby Developments Limited by Mono Architectural Design said: “The proposed development will deliver the high-quality business park envisaged by the Local Plan policies, which will perform a strategic role in attracting significant local and inward investment and generating a high level of job outputs within a high-quality environment.
“At present, the site is currently a greenfield site, and would be cleared, altered and levelled sympathetic to its context and environment.
“Given Sefton & Formby Developments commitment to invest in Formby, the proposed development will, if consented, be constructed at the earliest opportunity, and will provide a quantitative and qualitative improvement in the employment offer in Formby.”
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