Supermarket plan for town wins backing

Calderdale Council planners backed Aldi’s scheme for a store off Birds Royd Lane near its junction with Huddersfield Road.

Critics claimed the Aldi plan could scupper the future development of Sugden’s Mill, Brighouse, currently home to a climbing wall and other firms.

Brighouse Business Initiative argued that the Sugden’s site should be developed first, but for this to succeed a foodstore would be required.

Road safety concerns were also raised about the Aldi site while others said Birds Royd Lane was too far from the town centre and would damage other traders.

One of the main objectors was Morrisons, which said the Aldi site is less than a quarter of a mile from the “primary shopping area” and therefore “out-of-centre in retail planning terms”.