Plans to build an Aldi in Faversham as part of a controversial development have been delayed yet again.

Members of Swale Borough Council’s planning committee voted against the officer recommendation to approve the bid to open a branch of the German budget chain as part of the Perry Court site off Ashford Road.

It had come back before committee after being deferred at a meeting in May.

At a meeting last Thursday (September 12), councillors raised concerns regarding the design of the store, its impact on air quality, highways and Faversham town centre’s shops.

Following this, the application was once again deferred to a future committee meeting.

John Irwin spoke to object the bid on behalf of Ashford Road residents.

“My main concerns relate to traffic congestion and associated noise and air pollution,” he said.

“It is estimated that the supermarket will result in an additional 98 cars an hour on the already congested Ashford Road at peak hours.

“Improvements to the A251/A2 junction have been long promised and recently a number of options for junction improvements were discussed at a joint transportation board meeting.

“I would suggest that consideration of the planning application is postponed until a confirmed start date and timeline for the A251/ A2 junction improvements is provided.

“Objections and questions at the meeting were largely restricted to the supermarket proposal rather that of the hotel.”

Outline permission for a small 200 sqm convenience store was granted in 2016 as part of the wider project - which includes 310 houses, a care home and a hotel.

In May last year, however, updated plans were submitted by developers Henry Davidson to include a supermarket more than eight times larger at 1,715 sqm.

To view the application, go to pa.midkent.gov.uk and search for the reference number 18/502735/FULL.

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