WORK on Ely’s Aldi superstore will begin at the end of next month.
The German retail giant was granted fresh permission to build on the former Thurlow Nunn Standen site, in Lisle Lane, by councillors last week, following more than four years of inactivity.
Aldi was given permission to build on the site in 2008 but opted not to begin work, with the permission expiring late last year.
Now, the retailer has revealed it is planning to begin building the store, which sits almost opposite to the new Sainsbury’s, in a matter of weeks.
An Aldi spokesman said: “We expect the store to open in November and will be creating approximately 20 jobs.”
The revised plans for the site include 85 parking spaces and eight cycle spaces. Proposals for a non-food store and pedestrian link to the city, put forward in the 2008 plan, have been dropped.
Andew Olley, of the Ely Traders’ Association, said: “It is great to have new stores coming to Ely.
“Ely is thriving. But what we need to do is ensure that all areas of Ely continue to thrive.
“This requires planning and a focus on retail at the heart of our community as well as on the outskirts.
“A new Aldi will bring additional free parking at the edge-of-town.
“What would be very unfair is if the council allow this kind of development and then impose heavy parking charges on the city centre.”
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