Aldi’s fight to gain planning approval for an £18m Rye supermarket has hit another hurdle after East Sussex County Council re-lodged two objections to the project’s flood risk management strategy.
As a result, Aldi is now racing to comply with flood management requirements as well as trying to overcome National Highways’ objections to proposals for road access to the busy A259. These vital matters will need to be addressed several weeks before the end of May, which is the current deadline for a planning decision by Rother District Council (RDC).
It also means the German discount supermarket will have to revisit its flood planning and drainage strategy only a few months after the Environment Agency said it had no objections.
In a letter to RDC’s planning division in early April, ESCC’s Communities, Economy and Transport division lodged an “objection due to insufficient information”, stating that: “The applicant has failed to meet the requirements to assess its acceptability in flood risk terms.”
In its role as lead local flood authority, the ESCC’s second objection was that: “The application presents an unacceptable on site / off site flood risk.”
On a more positive note for Aldi, the council proposed what it expects to be done to resolve the drainage problems and offered to discuss the issues raised.
Meanwhile, it remains unclear whether Aldi’s transport consultants can convince National Highways (NH) that the supermarket will not produce an “unacceptable impact” on A259 traffic flows. NH earlier recommended that planning permission be withheld until April 29 unless all its “concerns and requirements … are fully resolved”.
RDC’s planning portal currently indicates that a decision will be made by May 30.
The supermarket planning application has sparked huge public interest in Rye, with a large number of local people submitting comments to RDC. While the overwhelming majority of this feedback expresses support for a second supermarket to introduce greater competition and reduce grocery prices, the planning authority will also take other factors into account.
A spokesperson for Aldi said: “The project team are continuing to work closely with Rother DC officers and statutory consultees, providing extra information and amendments as necessary.”
The development on Winchelsea Road also includes proposals for 16 private homes and a large building for retirement accommodation.
Image Credits: David Worwood .
Will the new housing talked about in Rye have to jump through the same hoops?
Sadly Jan, it doesn’t matter what developments are put in front of the planners in this town, every development takes an eternity to get passed, as suddenly every excuse under the sun comes up, to denie anyone that wants to invest in this town.
It makes me laugh to hear RDC are so concerned about flood and waste planning at this proposed site. We live in an area containing the worse polluted river in the southeast because of Southern waters gross incompetence. Perhaps RDC should harass this criminal company rather than one trying to bring employment and competition to our town.
Neil the article says the objection originated from East Sussex County Council. It’s a complex picture when it comes to who is responsible for what but RDC are responsible for the overall planning process and ESCC the lead flood authority.
Is this the same East Sussex county Council, along with two others, that Sat on the fence as two supermarkets fought to gain control of the ferry road site,without intervening and causing so much grief too others, due to their Incompetence in solving that debacle.
Yes Neil you’re spot on bringing employment to our town
If Aldi get the go ahead that will be full time and part time work for at least 30 to 40 people much needed in this town.
Vic, and 300-400 extra cars a day.
Perhaps you could share the source of your 300-400 extra cars a day? Would they be the same cars that transit Rye and surrounds to go to Aldi in Ore?
Cliff you’re right, just guesswork. Let’s try a calculation. There are 107 parking spaces, on average people take at most one hour to shop, the store will be open 0800-2200, so 16 hours. Theoretically 107 cars x 16 hours = 1,712 car visits maximum. That’s 3,424 potential car transits in and out of car park per day. Let’s divide that by half because obviously the car park isn’t going to be full to capacity all day. So, back to 1,712. Let’s divide that by half again to be on the safe side. So around 856 cars going in and out of the car park on to New Winchelsea Road every day. Does that sound fair? Maybe 300-400 is actually an under-statement? PS If there are any traffic experts who can provide better data, please correct me. BTW, Aldi in Rye will suck in consumers from surrounding villages from all directions, a far greater volume I would imagine that those people living to the east of Rye going through town to get to Ore. If you live in Lydd or Camber, Sainsburys in New Romney is much closer. And please don’t tell me that nearly 900 extra car journeys a day through Rye is worth it so that you can save 20p on a can of beans.
Nicik, I have a better idea. Rather than come up with a back of a fag packet calculation, visit the planning portal at RDC. There are two documents named ‘Transport Assessment (parts 1 & 2). The documents use a government approved method of analysis (also used by many other countries) that gives (allegedly) current and expected vehicle movements and flows. Specifically with this development in mind.
Don’t worry about me and my can of beans. I buy em by the case from cash and carry. Thus cutting down my bean/mile carbon footprint.
Shouldn’t we be encouraging everyone to eat fresh, locally grown, locally produced, seasonal foods rather than encouraging a major supermarket chain to setup shop in Rye?
It is no coincidence the alarming increase in type 2 diabetes over recent years and supermarket chains pushing evermore processed and ultra processed foods on consumers. Unfortunately big money talks loudest, and we live in an age of their profits take priority over our public health.
I can’t afford local produce. Much dearer than big supermarket chains
Maybe there are enough green fingered people locally with the enthusiasm to start a community farm in order to make locally grown fresh produce more affordable? Eating healthily should be for everyone, not a privilege.
Thanks Cliff, the Transport Assessment says 108 arrivals/departures PER HOUR during the morning peak, 185 PER HOUR during the afternoon peak, and 271 PER HOUR during the Saturday peak. So my fag-packet calculation was an under-estimate. Can anyone living in Rye seriously support this proposal with an extra 270 car journeys per hour on Saturdays?
Nick, your response is fundamentally flawed. You have fallen in to the trap of taking the figures as ‘extra’ journeys. Not taking into account cars that visit as ‘diverted traffic and passing traffic.
Did you look at the Transport Reports?
If you did, you would have seen the following:
2.25 Diverted trips are derived from people who are using the road network close to the Site for another purpose who will divert their trips to visit the Site while passing in the broad vicinity. In this case diverted trips will most likely be derived from traffic already travelling through the “Kettle o’ Fish” roundabout between the A259 South Undercliff and Wish Street, which would instead divert via the A259 Winchelsea Road to visit the proposed Aldi.
2.26 Pass-by trips are from people who currently use the road adjacent to the Site for a trip involving another purpose who will visit the Site while passing; in this case, from traffic which is already passing the site on the A259 Winchelsea Road.
The traffic numbers are not the same as the arrivals/departures numbers. A large proportion of visits will be from traffic already in or close to the Site.
As for taking the proposal seriously take a look at the ‘Statement of Community involvement’.
Of the people that responded to the simple questionnaire.
102 were in favour.
11 undecided.
6 were against.
I would say that is an overwhelming majority in favour?
Rye is a low wages area. Many people involved in the hospitality and retail trade are at, or marginally above the minimum wages group. In fact Rye and it’s surrounds was close to becoming a ‘deprived’ area at one stage.
Do you really think that many (including those elderly who have had their £300.00 per annum heating allowance snatched off of them by the current government) really care about a few extra cars if they are going to shave 20% or so off of their grocery bills?
The town has been entrapped by an expensive supermarket monopoly for far too many years. If this current Aldi proposal falls at the first fence then I trust another site close to Rye will be found.
Then the selfish amongst us will have something else to whinge about.
Quality food is what you get if Aldi comes to town
Quality food award retailers of the year 2023 / 2024
Quality food award Christmas retail2024
Which. Cheapest supermarket 2023 /2024
Food industry awards winners food retailer 2024
Fresh multiple fruit and vegetables retailers of the year 2023
Drinks retailers award
Grocer gold award 2023
Good housekeeper food award 2023
Aldi award for its meat range particularly it’s steak range
So hopefully if Aldi gets the go ahead Rye will have a two choices
To do their supermarket shopping.
Vic
You are aware how these big shiny awards are funded? Entrants pay a fee to be entered into them. The larger the retailer/manufacturer, the larger the fee they pay. This is how these award and review bodies justify and finance their existence. So the reality is these awards you’ve listed should really be taken with a pinch of salt. But thank you for providing a very good example of how big money talks loudest.
If you believe every shiny thing you see, that’s your choice. My choice is to be well informed and predominantly consume quality, locally grown and produced seasonal foods. Lower food miles, better for the environment. Healthier and tastier for me, and better for the local economy.
It’s become a sad scenario in this town, traffic congestion, flood plains despite the town being protected by millions of pounds spent with river bank upgrades, sadly so many in this town love to still live in the 20th century who will do their utmost to stop anyone investing in this town in this 21st century.
Out of interest, how many cars a day enter and exit the newly refurbished petrol station and Costcutter shop near the old ‘Skinner’s’ roundabout? This is on a bend, within about 40 metres of a roundabout and appears to cause few traffic problems.
Aldi in race against time
Rod a response to your comment
So the awards Jempson received in the past for Independent supermarket of the year
Fresh produce retailer of the year
Sea food retailer of year and many other awards they received
So as you say like Aldi all to be taken with a pinch of salt, no I would say they was proud of the achievement and the awards.
With so many issues in play locally, wouldn’t it have been wonderful if we had been granted the right to vote today…