Aldi considers plans for a new store in Formby and wants your opinions in a meeting next week

Aldi, the award-winning discount food retailer, is considering bringing forward a planning application for a new store on brownfield land off the Formby Bypass. The retailer is inviting the local community to view its plans online as well as hosting a public exhibition in Formby on Tuesday 17 January 2023.

The retailer is looking to redevelop the site of the former commercial plant nursery/garden centre to the north of Moss Side in east Formby. This closed a number of years ago, with some buildings demolished and some falling into disrepair. The site currently has consent to store vehicles and also benefits from existing planning for residential development.

As part of its commitment to community consultation, Aldi is asking residents in Formby to attend a public exhibition, displaying its vision for redevelopment of the site. Alternatively, the plans can be viewed online at

aldiconsultation.co.uk/Formby where an online feedback form is also available.

The in-person event will be held:

On: 17 January 2023

Between: 3pm and 7pm

At: Formby Methodist Church, 8 Elbow Lane, L37 4AF.

Bryn Richards, Aldi’s Regional Property Director, said: “We are aware that Formby does not currently have a discount food store and have been looking to invest here for some time. We have identified a suitable site, but before we decide whether to invest here and progress a planning application, we need to understand if there is public support and local demand for our plans. I’d encourage people to visit our exhibition, view the plans online and let us know their views.”

“With the current cost of living crisis, Aldi believes it has an essential role to play in providing access to high-quality products at affordable prices.”

“The plans represent a multi-million-pound investment that would create around 40 well-paid jobs and provide Formby residents with local access to a discount food store. If supported by the local community, Aldi will look to progress a planning application to Sefton Council in the coming months.”

The plans would also deliver a new signalised site access junction, as well as facilitating improvements to pedestrian and cycle connectivity from Formby to the site and countryside. Aldi estimates that the proposals would save 206,225km in car travel per year, reducing CO2 emissions by around 32.74 tonnes per year.

As well as attending the event or visiting the project website, people can also find out more information and provide their feedback by calling the Freephone information number, 0800 298 7040, or emailing feedback@consultation-online.co.uk.

ALDI

Aldi is Britain’s fifth largest supermarket with more than 980 stores and around 40,000 colleagues.

The supermarket believes in making everyday amazing and delivering the best possible value for millions of families throughout the UK and Ireland. That’s why Aldi is the UK’s Cheapest Supermarket, according to consumer champion Which? (October 2022).

Aldi consistently racks up award after award for quality, treats its suppliers and employees with fairness and respect and recognises the responsibility of supporting valued institutions such as Team GB and Paralympics GB to demonstrate the importance of health and wellness.

Aldi makes the everyday amazing. But amazing doesn’t happen overnight, which is why Aldi is making changes to be better every single day – to be fairer, greener and healthier for customers, society and the environment. What’s the reason they do this? Because Aldi believes that everyone should have access to fresh, healthy, affordable food. It’s a right, not a privilege.

Benefits of the proposal:

• Providing Formby residents with local access to a discount food store

• Our customers save between 30 and 40% on their shopping without compromising on quality

• Redevelopment of a brownfield site which already has planning consent for vehicle storage and residential development

• Attractive landscaping to enhance the appearance of the site

• Creation of around 40 new full and part time jobs, with wages significantly higher than both the

Government’s National Living Wage and the Living Wage Foundation’s recommended rates of pay

• Over £1m in wages generated per annum

• Additional employment opportunities during construction and supported through the supply chain

• An opportunity to improve recreational connectivity to the Green Belt via enhanced cycle and

pedestrian links from Formby

• £5m of investment into the local economy