Company threatens legal action over council decision to build an Aldi

Mansfield District Council gave outline planning permission to build the supermarket on land off Oakleaf Close, next to the Golden Eagle pub.

The planning committee unanimously passed the application in September.

But Aldergate Properties Ltd has since taken legal advice to challenge the decision.

The company claims the development is ‘inappropriately located’ and more importantly, will affect the town centre’s ability to attract much-needed investment.

In addition, Aldergate’s sister company, Aldergate Projects Ltd, owns a site in the town centre on Belvedere Street, which they had intended for bring forward for retail use, possibly a supermarket.

In a letter by the firm’s solicitors, Browne Jacobson LLP to the council it reads: “It is unlawful for the council to grant planning permission without addressing the question of whether the proposal would have an adverse impact on the town centre.

“The council failed to consider what effect a further out-of-centre Aldi store would have on the residual expenditure available to support the provision of a convenience store in the town centre.”

Meanwhile, Mansfield District Council has said it has responded to the letter, but would not comment further.

letter of objection has been received from Aldergate Properties Limited on the following summarised grounds:-

Retail development on the scale proposed would be inappropriately located and contrary to National and Local Policy. It will have a severe effect on the ability of the town centre to attract much needed investment and should be refused.

The site should properly be regarded as ‘’out of town’’ or at best ‘’out of centre’’. On any proper assessment there are sequentially preferable locations for this development and to which this development should be directed.

The application was difficult to track down as the address used on the Council’s web search is Oak Leaf Close – surely it should be Southwell Road West?