It's a done deal - an Aldi supermarket is coming to Biddulph.

Councillors made the final decision to approve the application at a meeting of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council's Planning Committee this afternoon (Thursday, 14th January).

After a meeting to decide on the application was delayed by several months, the district council voted to approve the application after around an hour of debate via a virtual meeting that was live broadcast on the council's website today.

The application to build the store was submitted back in June, and the supermarket will be located at the site of the former Meadows Special School off Tunstall Road.

Biddulph Nub News reported last week how the district council's planning officers recommended that councillors vote to approve the application, subject to a list of conditions.

And that recommendation was taken up by councillors today, with district council members voting unanimously to approve the application, meaning Aldi has now been given the green light to begin building its Biddulph supermarket.

Introducing the debate, committee chair Cllr Paul Roberts noted the public interest in the application, saying: "We have all received emails, calls and texts about this application. I have never had so many and I'm sure the other councillors haven't either."

Biddulph's mayor Cllr John Jones was the first to speak in favour of the application.

He said: "Biddulph Town Council recommended approval in July 2020 and I want to make it clear that we are delighted to welcome Aldi to the town and regenerate a derelict area. The council has made a number of recommendations and these have mainly been addressed.

"I want to emphasise the importance of bus access to the site. The town council has worked to develop a bus route and we consider that bus access is important to reduce traffic on a critical road junction, and providing additional connectivity with the town centre.

"We want to provide every opportunity for the town centre to regenerate, and we hope that bus users will visit the store and then the town centre. It will also enable low income families to access the store more easily.

"Aldi have stated they don't wish to take an active role within this, so we would ask that a commitment from Aldi to help us progress with this is a condition of the approval. We are very keen to see Aldi in the town and don't wish to hold up this process, but we have to get it right as the store will be there for a long time."

It is understood that the previous delays on the application were caused due to Aldi and the district council still being in negotiations regarding the bus route, as well as negotiations over James Bateman Middle School's access to its playing fields.

Aldi property director George Brown said: "We have been looking for a site in Biddulph for over four years. Many residents have been travelling out of town to do their shopping, and Aldi will help residents to stay local and use local facilities.

"This will bring expenditure back into the town and benefit the environment. We have put significant consideration into the scheme's design. The scheme was also designed to ensure James Bateman pupils can continue to access their playing fields.

"From a legal perspective, although we would welcome one, a bus route cannot be conditioned upon us because James Bateman have a legal right of way on that bus route."

Cllr Jones replied: "We are just asking for a commitment for Aldi to work with us to try and make it happen, but we fully understand the constraints Aldi are under."

With Mr Brown adding: "The bus route is entirely in our interest, so I actively encourage that delivery. We just can't promise to deliver it because it is not our legal right to do so."

Local resident Stanley Leech also spoke in favour of the plans.

He said: "This will create badly needed employment in Biddulph, encourage people to shop in Biddulph, and give choice to people who can't travel easily."

Cllr Jim Davies then proposed that the application be approved, saying: "If this decision was open to public vote it would be overwhelmingly in support.

"This application is very suitable for approval. The site is just waiting to be developed. I can see no reason not to approve it and I would like to propose approval."

This proposal was then seconded by Cllr Keith Flunder.

Debate also took place around the potential provision of solar panels on the site, as well as the details of how parking would be enforced at the store.

However, it was noted that in this late stage in the application process, it would be difficult to make any changes to the plan's conditions.

Cllr Davies added: "We can't go changing the application at this late stage. I think we should take the application as it is because I don't think we can do anything else now."

Cllr Roberts thanked Aldi for their interest in the site, and a named vote was taken, which was unanimously in favour of approval.