Supermarket bosses say they are “absolutely delighted” to be given the green light for a £6.4 million store in Castle Douglas.
Councillors gave Aldi’s plans for an outlet on Oakwell Road the thumbs up at last week’s planning applications committee.
That was despite officials recommending the plans be rejected due to the potential impact on existing businesses.
However, members approved the plans as they will create 35 jobs and will result in less people driving outwith the Stewartry for their shopping.
An Aldi spokesman said: “We are absolutely delighted that the application has been approved by Dumfries and Galloway Council’s planning application committee.
“We can’t wait to bring our offering to the local community in Castle Douglas and across the Stewartry area.
“As the cost-of-living crisis worsens and affects millions of households across the country, we are confident our now approved proposals will make a positive contribution to the area.
“The new store will reduce shopping miles, provide more choice to the area, improve the affordability of weekly food shopping and will also create up to 35 local jobs and deliver a significant investment of around £6.4million into the local area.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the public for their overwhelming support for our proposals and we look forward to welcoming them to our store by late 2024.”
Castle Douglas is currently served by two supermarkets – the Co-op and Tesco – both of which objected to the plans, with the Co-op the only objectors who spoke at last week’s meeting.
There was widespread support for the proposals in Castle Douglas following news of the refusal recommendation.
Hundreds of people emailed councillors calling for the plans to be approved, with a petition supporting Aldi attracting nearly 1,000 signatures.
Castle Douglas Community Council also backed the plans and treasurer Martin Fortnum said: “I think it’s brilliant news for the town.
“Most folk I spoke to were in support of it. I’m also led o believe the only organisation not for it was the Co-op – none of the traders in King Street were against it.
“It’s the old story of being frightened of the day they’ll never see. It was the same when we were talking about bypassing
Castle Douglas and the same with Tesco. Nobody wants change.
“I think in this day and age with the high cost of living and everything going along with that I think it will be very welcome to the town.”
Castle Douglas and Crocketford Councillor Ian Howie publicly stated his backing for Aldi before last year’s elections and re-iterated that message to the committee last week, believing consumers deserved the option of a discount foodstore.
He said: “I am pleased that the decision was made and I would hope there are no measures taken by parties that would delay the opening date of the building.”
Dee and Glenkens Councillor Dougie Campbell also spoke in favour of the plans at the meeting.
He said: “There’s no doubt that the voices of people in my ward were represented loud and clear to members of the planning committee, so I was relieved that the recommendation to refuse the Aldi application was set aside, and was granted.
“We deserve the same access to discounted supermarket prices as anyone else in the region. And today was an important step forward.”
