BUDGET food store giant Aldi is one step closer to opening a new branch in Alvaston after council planning officers recommended it goes ahead.
This is despite the objections of ward councillor Paul Bayliss, who objected that it would have a "detrimental impact on the two local district shopping centres".
The development would mean the building of a new store on scruffy and overgrown land, next to a petrol station at the corner of Harvey Road and Coleman Street.
It would create 29 jobs, 12 full-time and 17 part-time, and include a car park.
Aldi wants it to be open from 8am to 9pm, Monday to Saturday, and 10am to 4pm on Sundays and bank holidays.
Mr Bayliss had written to the council to say that the store was halfway between Allenton and Alvaston District Centres but that he believed the most detrimental impact would be drawing shoppers away from Alvaston.
He also pointed out that there was already an existing planning application for a Tesco store in Osmaston Road.
He said: "The final decision now lies with the planning committee.
"I'd love that store to be built in Alvaston but in the district centre."
A final decision on the Aldi application will be made by the city council's planning committee next Thursday. July 3
In recommending it for the go-ahead, planning officers said Aldi provided statistics that showed 9% of the new store's predicted £4.7 million turnover would be diverted from Allenton District Centre.
The report adds that 7.5% of the new store's turnover would be taken from Alvaston District Centre, including diversion from Iceland, the Co-op and Tesco Express.
But the report adds: "Impacts on neighbourhood centres are not a desirable outcome from this proposal but are a reality.
"However, officers do not think that such impacts can be described as 'significantly adverse', which would be required to justify refusal of the proposed development."
The report adds that there appears to be "a level of community support" in the area for the new Aldi.
It says this is because it "will introduce a 'deep
discount' retailer into an area that is not currently
well served by this type of retail".
The report says the proposal would "result in a satisfactory form of development that would enhance the character of the street scene and, subject to conditions, would preserve the amenity of neighbouring residents".
An Aldi spokesman could not say when the store would open if permission was granted.
