“It broadens people’s options!” Market Rasen looks set for first budget supermarket as Aldi and Starbucks submit application

A town could have its first budget supermarket as soon as next year, as a detailed application has been submitted for an Aldi and Starbucks to be built in the town — some 18 months after initial planning permission was granted.

The proposal, on vacant land at Gallamore Lane, Market Rasen was granted outline planning permission back in 2021, but property developer and client Morbaine has now presented a detailed application for West Lindsey District Council to consider.

Initial rumblings of an Aldi coming to Market Rasen were met with almost universal acceptance by the local population at the time, with Morbaine saying its period of public consultation in 2021 saw over 90% of 388 respondents support the plans.

Since this first approval, Morbaine has worked with Aldi and Starbucks on designs that will benefit shoppers and residents in Market Rasen, and it hopes to begin construction in summer 2024 — with a view towards opening to the public the following year.

This fresh application was submitted on January 25, with more detailed plans around visual impressions, site plans and store layouts.

Details include 139 parking spaces, including 8 disabled parking spaces, 1802m2 / 19,397 ft2 Gross Internal Floor Area for the Aldi store, and 139m /1,496ft Gross Internal Floor Area for Starbucks.

If approved, it will become just the second large supermarket in the town of Market Rasen, providing a fresh option for residents from the existing Tesco Superstore.

Beyond supermarkets there is a Co-op, a Morrisons convenience store in the former McColls building, and an independent convenience store in Market Rasen.

The plans are open for public consultation, which you can take part in by visiting the application on the West Lindsey District Council website.

Coun Stephen Bunney (Liberal Democrat), chairman of West Lindsey District Council and ward councillor for Market Rasen, said this would be a welcome boost to the area, with some 35 jobs likely to be created by this development.

“It broadens people’s options and everyone is looking forward to possibly having another store to choose from.

“There is a need for a budget supermarket in Market Rasen and the Aldi model seems to be what people want here. It is very satisfying to see the economic growth of the town.”

Graham Adams, Development Director at Morbaine, said it would provide a “much-needed enhancement” to the local food shopping facilities.

“When we launched our plans back in December 2020, we undertook a public consultation exercise to understand how the development would be received by the local community.

“We are now delighted to be able to provide the opportunity to bring a new Aldi store to the town which will provide a much-needed enhancement to the range of food shopping facilities locally, whilst helping to support the future needs of the town’s growing community.”

Coun Bunney went on to say that the council is working hard to “bring back the market feel” to the town by integrating vital services into Market Rasen, whether it be a development like this Aldi proposal, or plans for a banking hub in the town later this year, pending approval.

“We will be working to make sure everyone has a wide variety of options,” he said. “We have a range of independent businesses and we don’t want to see those go because they bring something unique to the town.

“However, people have to travel to other towns for these budget supermarket options at the moment, so it will be great for the people of Market Rasen to hopefully have that choice too.”

A spokesperson for Aldi said that demand for its stores has “never been higher” and the budget retailer is “extremely excited” about the possibility of branching out to Market Rasen in the near future.

“We have been searching for a suitable site in Market Rasen for some time and we are therefore extremely excited about the prospect of opening a new store on Gallamore Lane.

“The store will provide an enhanced shopping experience for the local community whilst giving them access to our range of high-quality products at unbeatable value.”