At the very last minute as online consultation into the new Aldi store in Rye closed, Jempson's finally revealed what it thought of a potential supermarket rival. The local firm says the loss of trade to its Rye store would mean lost trade elsewhere in the town.
Peacock and Smith, the planning consultants representing Jempson's, lodged a “holding objection” with planners at Rother District Council on Friday August 9 – the final day of the two-month consultation.
The letter, which was made public three days later when it was uploaded to the council’s planning portal, is short on detail.
The Leeds-based firm say they are representing Jempson's and partners, Morrisons, in objecting to the plans. “Our clients have significant concerns about the development, specifically, the adverse retail impact the proposal would have on Rye town centre…Jempson's operates a town centre store that anchors the town centre and loss of trade to this store is likely to result in loss of trade to the wider town centre.”
The letter goes on to say that further comments will be provided "in due course and no later that Friday 23rd August 2024." Two weeks after the official online consultation closed.
You can read the full letter here.
The plans for a new Aldi supermarket on Winchelsea Road are part of wider development plans for the site, including homes and retirement housing. The vast majority of the comments received by Rother District Council are in favour of the new store, with many citing competition and food prices as reasons to give the plans approval. The retirement housing is receiving less support.
The developers plans are likely to be discussed at Rother’s planning committee meeting on Thursday September 5. A decision now seems unlikely after, as we revealed last week, National Highways objected to the developer’s plans for access to the site recommending a two-month delay for the correct traffic statistics measures to be used.
East Sussex County Council has now also said it cannot provide a full response to the developer's proposals until modelling on the traffic plans has been agreed by National Highways. ESCC also says it is seeking a contribution towards bus services as part of the application.
A spokesperson for Aldi gave Rye News this statement. "Rye does not currently have a large, mainstream supermarket, and we know from our consultation that many local people currently travel some distance from Rye to shop at Aldi or elsewhere. An Aldi store in the town will help to draw more regular shoppers from the surrounding area: bringing jobs, investment and consumer choice to Rye."
Jempson's have been approached for comment.
