A SUPERMARKET giant has formally objected to a competitor’s multi-million pound plans for a new store in Keighley.

Aldi is seeking permission to construct a store on the long-derelict site at East Parade.

It has also submitted an outline application for another retail unit – and a coffee drive-thru – on the same site.

Morrisons – which has a supermarket in nearby Worth Way – has registered its opposition, citing as its main reason the extra traffic the development would create on the town centre’s already-congested roads.

It claims the scheme would “significantly erode” any benefits to the town in terms of traffic flows from the Hard Ings Road improvements currently being carried out.

Exigo Project Solutions, objecting in support of Morrisons, says: “The existing roads network in and around Keighley is congested at peak times, which leads to extensive queuing across the town centre and the local network.

“Keighley is already subject to unreliable journey times, excessive delays and drivers making poor decisions to minimise their personal delay.

“This would be severely exacerbated by any additional delay caused by extra traffic and a change in turning patterns.

“The additional 1,879sqm floor area for a retail store, a drive-through and a retail unit of 1,858sqm is very likely to attract additional trips to Keighley from the surrounding area.”

But Aldi denies there would be any notable increase in vehicles and says the scheme would provide a major regeneration lift, bringing a prime brownfield site back into use and boosting the town centre.

Planning Potential Ltd, on behalf of Aldi, says: “A transport assessment submitted in support of these proposals shows that the trips associated with the replacement Aldi store are already on the network and included within the surveyed traffic flows.

“Trips to the other retail and drive-thru elements on the site would transfer from elsewhere on the network. Any new trips are likely to be minimal.”

Aldi says its new store would be bigger by at least 400 square metres than the existing Gresley Road supermarket, which would close and be put on the market.

The 30-or-so staff at the present site will be given the chance to transfer.

According to the company, local contractors and labour would be used during the construction phase.

The store would have 145 parking spaces – including some parent/child bays and eight allocated for disabled motorists – secure parking for cycles and motorbikes, and electric-vehicle charging points.

Vehicular access to the supermarket will be via Gresley Road.

There would be extensive landscaping.

The junction of Coney Lane and East Parade has been identified as a key pedestrian entrance to the site from the town centre and a large ‘public realm’ area is planned, to create a focal point.

Planning Potential Ltd says the scheme represents a “significant regeneration opportunity” for a brownfield site which has remained undeveloped for several years.

The spokesman adds: “The proposals will bring investment into the local economy and safeguard and future-proof the existing convenience provision through the creation of a more modern and efficient Aldi store to replace the existing one and provide much-needed complementary uses.

“There will be strong pedestrian linkages to and from the town centre.

“It is considered the proposed scheme will not have an adverse impact on the town centre. Indeed it will facilitate much-needed investment in the retail sector in Keighley, maintaining and enhancing Keighley’s role as a shopping destination as well as securing sustainable economic development for the town.”

The company says extensive consultation was carried out ahead of the planning application being submitted and that there was overwhelming public support for the plans, with 97 per cent of respondents backing the proposals. More than 20 letters of support have also been submitted to Bradford Council.

“Aldi has a strong track record on community consultation,” added the spokesman.

“Residents, stakeholders and elected representatives were given the opportunity to give their feedback regarding the proposals via a number of different channels.

“An information line and dedicated email address were made available throughout the course of the planning stages, for interested parties to receive further information and provide their feedback to the project team.

“A preview meeting with ward councillors and stakeholders took place prior to the wider public consultation event.

“A community newsletter detailing the application proposal was issued to nearly 4,000 residential and business addresses located near to the application site area.

“Feedback from stakeholders and the local community has been carefully reviewed and where possible, has informed the proposals.”

Keighley MP Robbie Moore says that with the retail sector in particular struggling at present, Aldi's plans should be seen as a vote of confidence in the town.

He adds: "It’s always good to see businesses seek to bring disused and derelict sites back into use rather than building over our valuable green space."

Paul Howard, manager of Keighley Business Improvement District, is also supportive of the scheme.

“Aldi is investing heavily into new store formats across the UK and of course we support this investment into Keighley town centre," he said.

"Alongside the jobs this will bring, the development will open-up the derelict East Parade site which has been a long time coming.

"We would like to see the site truly open to East Parade to enable other neighbouring businesses to benefit and to make linked visits into and from the town centre much easier."

And town mayor, Councillor Peter Corkindale, says: "That site has been derelict for years and looks a mess.

“Something needs doing with it and a new store will bring the land back into use and will hopefully have knock-on benefits for the rest of the businesses in the town centre.

“It shouldn’t increase traffic by a huge amount around that area and I can’t see that it will have any impact in relation to the current Hard Ings Road scheme.”

Bradford Council says the planning application is currently being assessed by officers and is expected to go before the regulatory and appeals committee “in the coming months”.