Foodstore car park changes at Aldi Stores, Fairlands Way, Stevenage

“Proposal : Incorporation of existing car park into foodstore car park, creation of a pedestrian route and ancillary works…”

“RELEVANT PLANNING HISTORY 2.1 00/00094/FP Class A1 Retail Store and Car Park 01.09.2000 PERREF”

“23/00736/FP Proposed extension to foodstore, including minor elevational alterations and ancillary works. 11.01.2024 PER”

“The principle of development is acceptable as it would support Aldi’s business and would not harm the operation of the adjacent King George V Playing Fields. The proposals would not result in harm to the nearest residential properties.”

“Given the aforementioned, the proposed development is considered to be acceptable in line with the Council’s adopted Local Plan (updated 2026), Design Guide SPD (2025), Parking Provision SPD (2025), the NPPF (2026) and Planning Practice Guidance. 9.”

“THE CURRENT APPLICATION 3.1 This application seeks planning permission to amalgamate the Council private car park with the existing Aldi food store car park, with 5 spaces being retained by the Council. The application comes before the Planning and Development Committee as the land is in the ownership of the Council and there has been more than 5 letters of representation received.”

“DC88 4. PUBLIC REPRESENTATIONS 4.1 Following notification of the application via letters and the erection of a site notice, the Council received 40 letters of objection and 1 letter of support. A summary of the comments received are set out below: Objection comments • Loss of safe and segregated pedestrian/cycle path • Pedestrian/cycle path through Aldi car park will be dangerous…”

“Following the questions, a motion to proceed to the debate and vote was proposed and seconded.”

“It was RESOLVED that planning permission be GRANTED subject to the conditions set out below and delegated authority be given to the Director of Planning and Regulation in consultation with the Chair of the Planning and Development…”

“3 No development shall commence until a Construction Management Plan has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority, including elements of the CLOCS standards as set out in the Highway Authority's Construction Management template.”

“8 The development shall not commence until a Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan (the HMMP), prepared in accordance with the approved Biodiversity Gain Plan and including: a) a non-technical summary; b) the roles and responsibilities of the people or organisation(s) delivering the HMMP; c) the planned habitat creation and enhancement works to create or improve habitat to achieve the biodiversity net gain in accordance with the approved Biodiversity Gain Plan; d) the…”