Aldi eye up Teignbridge

A new store could open by 2023

Teignmouth is being eyed up for a new Aldi.

The town has been included in a list of new locations the German retailer wants to open in by the end of the year.

Currently, Teignmouth residents have to travel to Newton Abbot for their nearest Aldi store, though it does have a rival Lidl outlet.

Aldi’s bid to add more supermarkets – 16 across the country – to its current total of 970 comes after the business recently overtook Morrisons to become Britain’s fourth-largest supermarket chain.

However, a recent attempt to add another in Devon failed following fierce opposition by local residents and a town council.

South Hams District Council had put forward the plan for an Aldi in Ivybridge to be built on two of its car parks, but it was turned down by the same council’s planning committee.

A total of 700 letters of objection were received, while Ivybridge Town Council also opposed the plan, saying the car parks were “vital for the viability of Ivybridge”.

Following the rejection, South Hams District Council said: “This is what local democracy is all about, but this decision does not stop us wanting to do the best for Ivybridge and to bring about regeneration for our towns.”

Any potential store for Teignmouth would have to go through the same planning process. It would either be delegated to planning officers or go through Teignbridge District Council’s planning committee.

Aldi says it is searching for suitable freehold town-centre or edge-of-centre sites suitable for development. It notes: “The site should be able to accommodate a 20,000 sq foot store with around 100 parking spaces. Ideally, the location will be near the main road with good visibility and access.