Demolition of the former town centre Co-op has resumed after a breach in planning conditions forced Aldi to halt work.

Contractors had begun bulldozing the old Park Street store when a planning officer identified the rule break.

The discount chain, working on a new 1,254 square metre supermarket, had not yet received approval of its construction management plan or construction environmental management plan, which were given as conditions 12 and 13 when Dover District Council (DDC) granted approval in December.

Watch the demolition of the former store

The plans detailed arrangements such as which routes vehicles would take to the site, intended hours of working and times of deliveries.

The documents also covered what measures would be taken to reduce the effects of noise, vibration, dust and site lighting.

Following the site visit on March 20, a DDC senior investigation planning officer instructed that all demolition work was stopped while they liaised with the site manager.

According to an email, seen by this newspaper, the continued removal of asbestos was permitted after it had already been exposed, as well as measures to make the building safe.

Mike Eddy, Green Party councillor for Mill Hill, said: “It is disappointing that the district council has had to remind the builders working on Aldi’s supermarket site that they had to have a construction plan in place.

“This is not a good start. The mature trees on the site have gone, but Aldi made promises to the people of Deal about replacement trees, commemoratives plaques and windows, as well as electric charging points. Those promises need to be kept.”

An Aldi spokesperson confirmed: “Some demolition and preparation work is underway on the Aldi site. However, we were awaiting sign off on two conditions before continuing with other activity.

“Documents were submitted to the council in February and authorisation has now been received.”

The demolition of the existing building sees the loss of nine residential properties and four retail units.

Mature trees have already been felled amid the firm’s £15,000 pledge to plant new ones elsewhere in Deal.

The highly anticipated store, which will create up to 50 jobs, is hoped to be open no later than Christmas this year.

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