'Eyesore' site to be turned into £7m budget store

An "eyesore" site is due to be turned into a budget supermarket.

Cumberland Council approved plans for the new Aldi to be built in Egremont, near Whitehaven in Cumbria, at a meeting on Wednesday.

The site, which had been a petrol station, a workshop and car dealership, was described as "dilapidated" by ward councillor Sam Pollen.

The meeting heard the project would bring a £7m investment to the town, including a new CCTV system to cover a nearby known anti-social behaviour hotspot.

Pollen said the plans had the "full support" of the town council and a large majority of residents.

"Egremont hasn't had investment for far, far too long," he said.

Some residents objected to the plans, including one who raised concerns about the impact on small town shops.

Simon Plumb, from Aldi, said the store would provide "provide better choice for the community", which is now only served by two chain food outlets and independent shops.

He said it would create more than 40 jobs.

Aldi said it hoped to open the shop in East Road within 18 months.

Separate plans for the Whitehaven branch of Aldi to be rebuilt near the current store on Preston Street were also given the go-ahead by councillors at the same meeting.

The company said the old building was 30 years old and the new location would give them the opportunity to build a larger store.

The staff would be relocated and they hoped to open the new site by Christmas next year.

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