Click here to see map for location of Dairy Crest Site, Alexandra Road Epsom

23/00402/FUL Redevelopment of site to deliver a retail foodstore (Class E), supporting car park, access, servicing and landscaping.

This is the second application submitted by Aldi to build a new supermarket store on the former Dairy Crest site, the first (in 2015) having been refused and the subsequent appeal dismissed.

That application at least included some housing provision on the site which, in the Society’s opinion, should be reserved exclusively for housing given its location in a residential area beyond the town centre. The Society noted in its letter regarding the present application that the recent Draft Local Plan failed to allocate this site for housing. The current application proposes no contribution whatsoever to meeting our housing target.

The previous Aldi scheme was refused based on the following:

• The proposed development is not in accordance with the development plan strategy as it promotes retail space outside of the town centre.
• The Application is contrary to the requirements of Section 2 of the National Planning Policy Framework.
• It does not promote a town centre first approach to retail development in particular to Policy CS14 (Core Strategy 2007) and Policies E3 & E14 of the Epsom Town Centre Action Plan (2011).
• The proposed development is in close proximity to the five ways junction and will cause an increase in the volume and nature of traffic generated. Contrary to Policy CS16 of the Core Strategy 2007
• The footpath to the east side of Church Road fails to provide a safe, convenient and attractive access for all, contrary to Policy CS16 of the Core Strategy 2007.

These reasons for objecting remain largely valid for the current application, to which can be added the opening of the new Lidl store in Upper High Street, further reducing the need for an additional food store in the locality. The major problem of operating an Aldi site in this location remains the impact of additional and queuing traffic created by shoppers, staff and deliveries. The only access identified is from Alexandra Road close to the five way junction, already a most challenging junction for motorists and pedestrians.

For all these reasons, the Society has strongly objected to the application and requested refusal.

See our letter here.

See our previous letter regarding the earlier application here.