A council is set to finally make a decision on controversial plans for a new Aldi store - three years after the scheme was revealed.

The German discount chain wants to build a shop off A28 Canterbury Road in Kennington after buying a 1.85-acre plot previously earmarked for a Miller & Carter steakhouse in late 2019.

It first unveiled its plans in 2021 but frustrated residents have criticised the proposed location, saying the already congested stretch will be unable to cope with the extra traffic.

Full plans were submitted to Ashford Borough Council (ABC) in August 2022 and on Wednesday, members of the planning committee will finally decide its fate.

Planning officers have recommended the scheme be approved, saying the site, which sits between the M20 and Holiday Inn hotel, is “sequentially suitable for this retail development”.

The officer added: “I consider the development of the site would bring economic benefits and enhance the retail offer in the vicinity, with no significant harm caused to the vitality and viability of the town centre.

“The site would constitute a sustainable location for this development which would be compatible with the commercial uses in the vicinity.”

However, those opposed to the development previously raised concerns over the impact it could have on the A28 and nearby Simone Weil Avenue.

Aldi bosses say a number of highway improvements will be introduced if the store is given the green light – including traffic lights at a new access point close to the M20 bridge.

Traffic lights will also be introduced at the junction with Cemetery Lane, which leads to Longacres Bybrook Barn, creating a staggered crossroads.

The Ashford-bound bus lane which currently runs to just short of the M20 bridge will also be reduced to stop at Kinney's Lane.

Despite highway concerns, the planning officer says the proposals would have an “acceptable impact on highway safety and capacity”.

They continued: “My assessment has found no unacceptable harm to the overall environment, biodiversity, visual amenity, movement networks or functioning of the green corridor.

“Instead, there would be net gains to biodiversity resulting from the development, in particular through the ecological corridor to the south-western boundary but also through the green roof design and provision of additional landscaping to the site boundaries.”

Two public consultations were held, the first in 2021 revealing the details of the scheme, before full plans were submitted a year later.

If approved, the store could create up to 50 jobs.

Originally 120 parking spaces were planned but this has fallen to 116.

Seven will be disabled bays and 10 will be for parents with young children.

Four bays will have electric vehicle charging points and another 20 will be prepared for charging points in the future.

There will also be enough storage for 18 bikes in cycle stands that will be covered by the store's canopy.

Aldi opened its first store in Ashford in Victoria Road in 2018.

It then submitted plans for a second store in Waterbrook Avenue, just off the A2070, which have been approved.

However, a condition imposed by ABC means contractors cannot start work until progress is made on a separate convenience store on the nearby Finberry housing estate.

The discount retailer has since launched a petition against the move as it fears Finberry residents "will continue to have no local foodstore for several years".

Residents in Finberry were sent letters about the petition which is also being advertised in Aldi’s current Ashford store in Victoria Road.

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Also set to be discussed on Wednesday are plans for 375 homes on land between Trinity Road and Sandyhurst Lane in Kennington.

Planning officers have recommended the estate, called ‘Trinity Lakes’, be approved.

In 2020, developer Quadrant Estates initially revealed plans for 600 properties but later scaled back the bid to 375 homes and removed a proposed retirement village from the 128-acre site, which sits next to Ashford Golf Club.

The developers say the homes and planned business units will be constructed around existing lakes on the site, providing a “sustainable mixed use development”.