Tesco is trying to stop Aldi from moving on to it’s patch in Newbury

Tesco is trying to stop Aldi from moving on to its patch in Newbury.

The supermarket has lodged a lengthy objection to plans to put an 1,800 sq m Aldi on the grounds of Newbury College – to include 128 car parking spaces.

The new superstore, which is said will generate around 40 new jobs, is around 400m from Tesco, M&S and Lidl on Newbury Retail Park.

Plans also include up to 75 homes and a care home with 70 beds.

The care accommodation proposal also includes the construction of a 20-bed hospice.

Tesco says that the redevelopment of the Kennet Shopping centre identifies the decline of the town centre being partly due to an increase in out of centre retail floorspace.

Tesco itself runs two out of centre superstores at the Newbury Retail Park and in north Newbury along London Road.

But the council officers don’t agree with the argument, saying the immediate catchment of the proposed store will be largely from south Newbury and the committed new residential developments including Sandleford East and West, Pinchington Lane and land north of nursery at Newbury College.

The council does concede that there may be a reduction in trade from the edge of town centre supermarket and may have a negative impact on the vitality of the Newbury town centre.

However, officers are satisfied that the risk is worth it – and there is no equivalent site available within Newbury town centre to accommodate the food store.

There are fears that the extra traffic generated could lead to 1km tailbacks.

Both Newtown and Burghclere Parish Councils have objected to the scheme – citing traffic increase concerns.

They say there will be an increase in traffic on the B4640 and the development will likely occur alongside Sandleford and “the traffic implications of both for the B4640 need to be considered holistically”.

“We raise concerns about its capacity and the traffic intersections at Monks Lane/Newtown Road (Newbury College roundabout) and the A339/Pinchington Lane (Tesco roundabout).”

The development has been amended on numerous occasions.

The latest planning application – recommended for approval at next week’s western area planning committee, is a resubmission of an application which was appealed against non-determination with the local planning authority recommending refusal.

The appellant withdrew the appeal before it was determined by the Planning Inspectorate.

The council expects affordable housing to be pepper-potted throughout the development.