Green light for Aldi supermarket on Uffington Road in Stamford despite road safety concerns

It’s all systems go for the construction of a £5 million Aldi supermarket in Stamford after plans were given the green light.

Members of South Kesteven District Council’s planning committee unanimously backed an application by the retail giant at a meeting on Wednesday (September 30).

This was despite some concerns around road safety, and particularly the inclusion of a pedestrian ‘refuge’ on Uffington Road, rather than a zebra crossing.

The store will be built on the former FH Gilman & Co site and is expected to be a catalyst for further development , including a 162-home estate and care home.

In a presentation to the committee, Richard Thompson, regional property director for Aldi, said the “long-time search” for a suitable site in Stamford was over.

He said the new store would create up to 40 jobs and he was confident it would stimulate further development.

The use of local stone and timber would also ensure the supermarket did not look out of place.

“We’ve gone the extra mile to reflect Stamford’s proud heritage and character,” Mr Thompson said. “It’s a unique store for a unique location.”

On the subject of road safety, he said the highways department at Lincolnshire County Council was “satisfied that no significant issues will arise”.

However, this was not enough to persuade another speaker at the meeting, Steve Carroll of Stamford Town Council’s planning committee, which objects to the plans.

He said highways safety was a major concern with the supermarket bound to add significantly to the daily 10,000 vehicle movements on Uffington Road.

Mr Carroll also expressed concern that the new store would draw trade away from the town centre, which was already struggling due to the pandemic.

In response, Mr Thompson said other developers could easily create a zebra crossing at the site of the pedestrian refuge as the area became busier, should highways deem it necessary.

And he said an independent assessment had been carried out on the impact on the high street and concluded that the store would not have a significant effect.

Unable to force Aldi to install a crossing as a planning condition, councillors agreed that they would contact the county’s highways team to inform them of the need for a new crossing at some point.

Despite these concerns, councillors lined up to praise Aldi for its extensive consultation and engagement with local people and for bringing investment to the town .

Coun Ian Selby (unaligned) said: “I like Aldi, I have to say. The quality of their food is always wonderful. This will be an excellent addition to Stamford.”

The nearest Aldi stores to Stamford at the moment are in Oakham and Peterborough.