The proposed Aldi supermarket at Perry Court in Faversham has been given the green light.

A meeting of Swale Borough Council last night approved plans for the new store and a Premier Inn on the outskirts of Faversham.

The planning application, recommended for approval by officers, is for a new supermarket and hotel along with associated accesses, car and cycling parking, lighting, drainage, landscaping and infrastructure.

Outline permission for a small 200 sqm convenience store was granted in 2016 as part of the wider Perry Court project - which includes 310 houses, a care home and a hotel.

In May last year, however, updated plans were submitted by Henry Davidson Developments (HDD) to include a supermarket more than eight times larger at 1,715 sqm.

The application was made by planning consultants Pegasus Group of behalf on Nottingham-based HDD.

HDD managing director Scott Davidson said: “The proposed 84-bed Premier Inn is set to generate around 29 new jobs, with a target for 50% to be taken by those not in employment, education or training aged between 16 and 24.

"The new Aldi store will employ 50 full-time equivalent employees, as well as supporting the expansion of facilities at the new Sheppey Distribution Centre which ultimately will provide 400 jobs and will broaden the retail offer in Faversham.”

Steve Lewis-Roberts, East Midlands regional director for Pegasus, said: “During the consultation process significant design changes were made to ensure a bespoke development that is right for Perry Court, and this was reflected by the fact that there were no objections from statutory consultees and that the application had the support of the local Faversham Town Council."

Tesco, which has a store in the town centre, has previously raised an objection to the development.

Other objections came from residents of Ashford Road, who feared traffic congestion and associated noise, and worse air pollution.

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