The Battle of the German Giants

Aldi's plans to build a food store and 6 flats on the site of the old dairy in Alexandra Road have produced a surprising objection .... from Lidl.

Lidl's correspondence to Epsom & Ewell Borough Council state that they are planning to buy the old Tesco site in Upper High Street. To be clear, the old Tesco site is the area behind the white hoardings, previously occupied by Iceland, owned by Tesco until recently and now owned by a company which has stated it wants to develop the area for housing. Readers will be aware that this site forms part of an official Development Brief prepared by the council which includes not only the area within the hoardings but also part of the car parks and beyond. Lidl have cited council policies in their letter of objection to Aldi's plans.

For the Stopaldi campaigners, Lidl's intervention is arguably good news though there are some local residents who don't want a food store on either the old dairy site or on Upper High Street. The fact that Lidl appear to have plans for a site designated as suitable for a food store, which is also next to a car park, might just add weight to the unsuitability of the old dairy site for Aldi. However, the status of these two proposals is very different : Aldi have a current planning application and Lidl appear to be some way from submitting theirs. Planning law is difficult when it comes to arguments of what might happen in the future i.e. Lidl, being used to judge a "live" planning application.

Epsom Lib Dems would welcome a food store of the right size, e.g. 2000 sq.ft. on the Upper High Street site, where the road network and parking is appropriate. Aldi's plans will be decided by the Planning Committee on Thursday 10th March.