Plans for a major new retail park in Northallerton including a supermarket and fast food outlets are set to win council approval next week.

The detailed planning application for the North Northallerton "neighbourhood centre" includes Aldi, Burger King, Greggs and Starbucks outlets, and will be considered by North Yorkshire Council's Richmond area planning committee on Thursday.

The retail park, which will be off Darlington Road, is connected to the nearby housing estate from Taylor Wimpey.

A mock-up of how the site could look once builtA mock-up of how the site could look once built (Image: ESHTON)

The application, from Eshton Developments Ltd and Aldi, comes after a full planning application for 298 houses on Darlington Road and Stokesley Road, and an outline application for 900 houses was granted back in 2016.

Eshton Developments says the shops will invest £8m in the local economy, create about 110 full and part-time jobs, and generate about £200,000 in business rates for North Yorkshire Council.

Here are the full proposals:

  • Aldi food store
  • Burger King restaurant with drive-thru lane
  • Starbucks coffee shop with drive-thru lane
  • Sandwich shop to be operated by Greggs
  • Associated parking for the proposals

A spokesperson for Aldi said: "The proposed location is a ‘gateway site’ to the area and the design, layout and landscaping have been carefully planned – we’ve taken great care to ensure the site leaves a positive first impression.

"The centre has been strategically positioned away from the existing roundabout, to create as much public open space as possible.

"In total, it is expected that up to 110 new full and part-time jobs would become available for local people – 40 of these jobs at the new Aldi food store alone."
 

The indicated space that the development could goThe indicated space that the development could go (Image: PLANNING)

The firm said the "new local centre in North Northallerton" will bring "much-needed new food shopping together with food and drink facilities ... to support the significant amount of new housing in the area".

During the application process, two consultations were carried out on the proposals, which included 37 public objections and 48 letters of support.

Among the objections is one from Sainsbury's, which has a store at the north end of Northallerton High Street, on the grounds of there being "no need for another food store".

Other complaints from residents included claims the development will not be the "small community shop and facilities" that was previously indicated, the development occupying one of the only green spaces within the North Northallerton area, and it being an "eyesore".

In contrast, the 48 support letters indicated that the development will create local jobs, provide a supermarket run by a budget retailer, and promote competition between retailers.

The proposals have been recommended for approval by council planning officers. A report to the committee states: "Having sought independent advice on these matters, officers are satisfied that the ... retail impact considerations are acceptable and are by national and Local Plan policy.

"The proposals (subject to conditions) are also considered acceptable in terms of layout, scale design/appearance, amenity considerations (including noise and odour), landscaping, and access, connectivity and highway safety."