Aldi will apply for planning to build on former Cattle Market site

Supermarket giant Aldi has confirmed its intentions to apply for planning permission as part of its proposals to build a new store and car park on Eastgate South and part of the former Cattle Market site.

The Wolds Weekly reported back in June that the German chain was looking to bring its discount brands to the Capital of the Wolds, along with a car park that could be used by customers and visitors to the town.

Later in the year, Aldi announced further information about its plans, with the food store set to create up to 40 full-time jobs, including employment opportunities during the construction phase and the local supply chain.

Running alongside the supermarket plans is a submission from Gatsby Group for a new council-owned community car park, replacing the current facility on Eastgate South.

The Aldi car park will provide 121 spaces and the community car park an additional 105.

This would mean an extra 98 spaces for residents and visitors on top of what is currently offered.

Aldi and Gatsby invited residents to a virtual exhibition, which ran until early August, to give their views and comments on the proposals.

Concerns have been raised about access to a supermarket on the site, whilst there were also fears that free parking provision would be lost.

However, Aldi and Gatsby Group confirmed to the Wolds Weekly in August that a decision has been made to make the parking feeless, with the only limitation being a maximum stay of 90 minutes in the supermarket car park.

With the consultation now concluded, KLR Planning, on behalf of Aldi Stores Ltd, has given notice that the company will be seeking planning permission from East Riding of Yorkshire Council to demolish the former public toilets on Eastgate South car park and erect ‘a foodstore, associated car parking, landscaping and associated works’.

Any owner of the land or tenant who would like to make representations about application for the proposed development are told to write to the council within 21 days of Tuesday 6th September.

The former Cattle Market site has been disused since the 2001 foot and mouth outbreak and was bought by Gatsby in 2018.

Later that year, the site was cleared, but no further development has taken place since and no planning application sought since the ones in 2008 and 2014 – the latter was subsequently withdrawn in 2017.
In 2020, East Riding of Yorkshire Council agreed for the land at Eastgate car park to be declared as surplus to the requirements of the council.

The land exchange was put through to allow the former Cattle Market site to be developed on the basis that in return for the sale of the council land, a replacement car park accessed off Exchange Street would be provided and transferred to the council.

It is understood that Gatsby has also purchased the building formerly home to Wooden House, which would provide the access to the site.

Gatsby has confirmed that a ‘brand-new access off Exchange Street’ is part of the plans, as well as improved links for pedestrians.