Aldi plans to expand Goldthorn Hill store face objections

Aldi wants to increase the size of its current Goldthorn Hill store to improve customer experience and make it more spacious for shoppers.

But Wolverhampton Council planning officers have claimed the supermarket giant has failed to address major road safety concerns and has branded plans 'unneighbourly'.

The German-owned chain has since said it is 'shocked' to discover its bid to expand the store is set to be turned down.

A council report read: "An increased store size could result in additional customers accessing the development site.

"This would generate an additional parking demand at the development site, and additional vehicle movements at an already busy location with a history of accidents.

"A transport statement has been submitted but it has failed to address concerns over level of parking provided for an extended store."

The company wants to purchase and demolish two semi-detached homes in Goldthorn Hill, as well as part of a residential garden, for the development.

Plans would see the retail area increase from 940 sqm to 1,260sqm at the store, which is based at the corner of Goldthorn Hill and Wolverhampton Road East.

The current car park - which at time can exceed 85 per cent occupancy - would be relocated and the number of spaces reduced, with the site of the demolished homes and garden used instead.

But planning officers said proposals for the car park would 'completely dominate' the street and would be detrimental to the community.

An Aldi spokesperson said: "We are shocked that our application to deliver a modest extension to our Goldthorn Hill store has been recommended for refusal by council officers.

“The store is 25 years old and in desperate need of investment. We hope councillors will scrutinise the recommendation carefully and judge for themselves whether they want to see the improvements made; so that Aldi can continue to perform as the anchor store in the area."

The council's planning committee has now been recommended to refuse the application at next Tuesday's meeting.

Officers also criticised the planning application's lack of detail and said a car parking survey was needed, as well as further information about traffic generated by the store.

A reduction in car parking spaces was also a 'major concern' as it could force traffic to spill out into Goldthorn Hill, the report added.

A report to the committee added: "The proposed car parking area would be unneighbourly as it would dominate the eastern and southern boundaries of adjoining properties

"There is very little landscaping or buffering between the parking area and these boundaries, therefore, their private rear garden areas would be subjected to vehicles approaching, parking and manoeuvring in and out of spaces, and the noise associated with them."