With a decision on the proposed Aldi store on Winchelsea Road in Rye imminent, the war of words between retail consultants continues.
Aldi's representatives - Avison Young - say the planned supermarket's customers would have 45 to 50 minutes to visit other shops and services in Rye, before returning to their cars in the food store's carpark.
Meanwhile, Jempson's consultant - Peacock and Smith - has dismissed those arguments and doubled down on its threat of action in the courts if the new supermarket receives the go ahead from planners, warning "an approval could invite a legal challenge on the soundness of any such decision”.
In a briefing note to Rother District Council lodged on September 30, Avison Young asserts that Aldi customers would average about 25 minutes in the store — based on a comparable group supermarket — and that the walking time into central Rye would be 8-10 minutes. Customers would be able to use Aldi’s carpark for up to 90 minutes.
Aldi would also be prepared to contribute £15,000 towards improving the walking route between its supermarket and the town centre, if the store receives planning permission.
Avison Young point out the Rother Core Strategy "includes a requirement for 1,650 sq m net additional convenience floorspace within or adjacent to the town centre of Rye" and that a second supermarket would reduce the need for car trips out of Rye.
In a reply dated October 8, Peacock & Smith claimed it is unlikely that Aldi would generate a significant number of linked trips and would be “a stand alone, car-based development”.
The consultant also questioned Avison’s figures for the average time customers would spend in Aldi and described Aldi’s offer of £15,000 for improvements to the public realm along the walking route as “a token financial contribution by Aldi”. Aldi says the improvements will be decided in consultation with the local planning authority and relevant stakeholders.
P&S avoided mention of Jempson’s own Rye dwell time figures used in Avison’s note and neither consultant referred to the issue of supermarket competition in Rye that has always been the main — but often unspoken — factor in the battle for Rye’s lucrative grocery business.
Earlier this autumn an independent report by Nexus found that "linked trips" to Rye town centre would be fewer if an Aldi were to open at the edge-of-centre Winchelsea Road site. The consultant's response argues that linked trips would be possible from the new Aldi store.
According to Connect Consultants, a survey of Jempson's customers earlier this year showed that of those respondents making a linked trip, 62.7% were proposing to spend less than half an hour in Rye and 17.4% between 30 minutes and an hour.
The Nexus report also says Jempson’s central Rye supermarket could suffer a 37% turnover loss if Aldi established itself. Notwithstanding this, Jempson’s carpark, because of its position, plays a key role in the "retail health" of Rye town centre. It will be one of the many factors RDC will consider when reaching a planning decision.
More than 16 months after Aldi lodged its planning application, the end-game seems to have been reached and there's speculation that an RDC decision will be announced by Christmas.
The new supermarket on Winchelsea Road also includes retirement housing and homes.
