The final decision on a planning application made by Aldi to build a new supermarket in Biddulph will be made by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council's Planning Committee at a meeting next month.

This is according to the application's page on the district council's planning portal, which now states that the decision will be made by the committee at a meeting on Thursday, 15th October.

Biddulph Nub News reported previously how Biddulph Town Councillors had recommended the application for approval, subject to a range of concerns.

One of these concerns related to the fact that the decision on the application was originally due to be delegated to the district council's planning officers.

Biddulph town and district Cllr Nigel Yates felt that an application of this size should be debated at a full district-level planning meeting.

With the latest decision date being announced, this change now appears to have been implemented.

Cllr Yates said at a meeting of Biddulph Town Council's Planning Committee: "I am concerned that this is down as a delegated decision at the district council.

"This is a major development, and I think it should go to the full planning committee at Staffordshire Moorlands for a proper debate."

Councillors also raised concerns relating to matters such as access, the aesthetics of the building, and potential disruption to the neighbouring James Bateman Middle School.

However, councillors supported the application overall, feeling that it was "a necessary development" for the town.

The German supermarket giant submitted an application to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council in June to build a new store on the site of the former Meadows Special School off Tunstall Road.

The school was destroyed in a fire in 2004, and was later relocated to Leek.