If given the green light, changes to the former Co-operative Food store in the town’s Butts Street will include the erection of an extension to the east elevation of the building, windows blocked up, and external walls re-rendered.
In a letter to planners, agents acting on behalf of Aldi said: “As part of an internal review of their portfolio, the Co-op have chosen to vacate this unit and, as such, have agreed to sell the site to Aldi, who intend to bring the building up to their standard spec and re-open this as a new store in the near future.”
However, agents say necessary works are required in order to ‘ensure the building is fit for their re-occupation’.
They include the minor extension of 67sq m to deliver a new service pod and introduction of a new refrigeration plant.
Other changes include the introduction of new cycle rails and trolley park at the store entrance, new hard landscaping at the store entrance, installation of new glazing and re-rendering of external walls to enhance the store appearance and to fit Aldi’s normal store aesthetics, and amendments to the car parking layout, parking bay widths and location of trolley parks to increase the number of spaces for 132 to 134.
The agents said: “With this investment, the refurbished store will deliver significant new benefits to this part of Annan, while also improving the choice and quality of convenience provision within the town.
Aldi are already well underway in their process of hiring staff for the new store. More than 40 jobs were lost after Co-operative Food sold the Butts Street store to Aldi in April.
Planning officials are still to decide on the new application.
