Plans for supermarket ‘could block regeneration of flour mill’

Aldi has submitted plans for a store on land next to 11 Birds Royd Lane in Brighouse, a scheme which would involve the demolition of Calderbank House, 9a Birds Royd Lane, Princess Works and Royd House.

The scheme is due to be decided by councillors on Calderdale Council’s planning committee on May 28 and officers are recommending the plans are granted.

But opponents, which include other businesses, have claimed that the Aldi plan could scupper the future development of the Sugden’s Mill, currently home to a climbing wall and other businesses.

Lesley Adams, on behalf of the Brighouse Business Initiative, has written to the council to claim that Brighouse already has a high proportion of convenience stores and that independent retailers would be harmed by more competition from another supermarket.

Miss Adams said the proposed Aldi store, because of its distance from the town centre, would encourage more car use.

She also said: “The former Sugden’s Mill site on Mill Royd Street is a sequentially preferable site. The proposed development will prevent the comprehensive development of the Sugden’s Mill site, a site that will bring genuine regeneration benefits to the town centre.”

Peter Davies, secretary of the Brighouse Road Safety Committee, has written to the council with his own objections.

He said: “The development will take away business from the town centre which is adequately provided with two supermarkets already.

“Congestion will result at then junction with Birds Royd Lane and Huddersfield Road as the access is opposite the entrance to the railway station car park...the increase in traffic will inevitably cause traffic accidents to occur.”

Planning consultants working on behalf of Morrison supermarkets have also objected to the Aldi scheme.

The consultants said the Aldi site is 400 metres from the ‘primary shopping area’ and is therefore “out-of-centre in retail planning terms”.

In a letter to the council, they refer to concerns about the potential redevelopment of Sugden’s Mill being put at risk.

“We would suggest that the evidence provided by Brighouse Business Initiative indicates that the Younger Homes part of the Sugden’s Mill site is capable of being brought forward for a foodstore development, and indeed that a foodstore on this site is required to enable its redevelopment.

“On this basis we consider that a sequentially preferable site exists and that the application should be refused on these grounds.”

Their letter adds: “A foodstore is required as part of proposals 
at Sugden’s Mill to ensure that redevelopment is financially viable.”

A council planning report concludes that the Aldi scheme can be given the go-ahead.

The report says that the sequentially preferable site (i.e. Sugden’s Mill) does not have to be approved/developed first and the development of an Aldi will not impact on the delivery of a small-scale store at Sugden’s.

The council also notes that the Sugden’s site is currently in use, including by an indoor climbing wall business, and there is no evidence the site is being readied for comprehensive redevelopment. The council says there is no scheme for Sugden’s is in the public domain.

“Having regard to all the information and representations put forward, it is considered on balance that the site at Mill Royd Street [Sugden’s] is not available for development within a reasonable timescale.”

Councillors meet at Halifax Town Hall on Tuesday, May 28 to discuss the Aldi scheme.