Aldi unveil plans for new supermarket in Llay

Discount supermarket chain Aldi have unveiled new plans to open a new store in Llay.

The proposals feature as part of a major housing development which currently being built at Home Farm, just off Gresford Road and the Straight Mile.

Now the retailer has launched a public consultation over the plans, which if approved would see the creation of 40 jobs for the local area.

As part of plans up for consideration Aldi say it is looking to “provide an attractive, modern food store in a convenient and accessible location for the residents of Llay and neighbouring communities.”

It continues onto say that that a “new store in this location would improve customer choice and reduce the need for customers to travel further afield.”

The supermarket would also consist 120 cars, including eight disabled and nine parent-and-child spaces.

Entrance to the supermarket would be provided via a new entrance on Gresford Road.

Planning permission for a retail usage on the land already exists in principle, after the then First Minister, Carwyn Jones, granted the redevelopment of the Home Farm site back in 2017.

Final plans for controversial development of 362 new properties by Bellway and Anwyl Homes were finally approved by planning committee members last summer, despite strong opposition from campaigners and some local councillors.

The proposed Aldi exceeds the erection of 300 square metre retail unit which was approved two years ago, with plans showing the supermarket would have a gross internal area of 1,315 square metres.

In terms of the scale of the potential store, details provided within the consultation’s planning statement explains: “A pre-application meeting was held on 31 January 2019 at the offices of Wrexham County Borough Council with Local Planning representatives to discuss the development, following which the council provided formal written pre-application advice on 22 February 2019.

“At the meeting, the background and reasoning behind Aldi’s decision to seek alternate permission in Llay was explained.

“Officers advised that they were comfortable with the principle of the development, subject to the key retail policy tests of Need, Sequential Test and Impact being addressed within the application submission.

“Within the meeting it was discussed that the emerging Local Plan Map 3 identifies the application site and the greenfield land to the east (residential development) are proposed to be included within the Llay settlement boundary on account of an extension to the existing settlement limit which currently ends at Gresford Road.

The document adds: “The residential scheme is the first part of the extension of the settlement limit.

“The proposed development will help improve the linkages and relationship of the site with the built area of Llay, provide a community facility and deliver sustainable development.”

As part of the consultation process Aldi will host a drop-in session / exhibition at Llay Miners Welfare Institute between 3pm and 7pm and Tuesday 11th June.

A formal planning application is expected to be submitted in July 2019 and considered by planning committee members later this year.

If approved it will be the fourth Aldi supermarket in Wrexham, with others on Plas Coch, Ruthin Road and one currently under development in Ruabon.

Documents / plans for the new Aldi in Llay and how to take part in the consultation process can be found here. (It appears they have updated the site since we tweeted noting links to a Ruthin development were appearing on the Llay info site.)