South Gloucestershire councillors heard the alternative was ‘decay and dereliction’
How the Aldi at Riverside Retail Park in Yate would look (Image: Aldi/Kendall Kingscott)
Controversial plans for an Aldi at a former cinema that split the community in Yate have been approved by councillors unanimously.
South Gloucestershire Council development management committee granted permission by 9-0 votes for a change of use of the ex-Cineworld in Riverside Retail Park, which shut last October, to a supermarket.
A total of 314 residents objected, along with Yate Town Council, but these were outnumbered by the 397 letters of support from locals.
Shopping centre bosses tried to find an alternative cinema chain to take over when it became clear it would have to close but could not find one and there was no interest from any other leisure operators, the meeting was told on Thursday, May 15.
Cabinet member for planning, regeneration and infrastructure Cllr Chris Willmore (Lib Dem, Yate North), a non-voting member of the committee, said: “Our choice today is either an empty building left crumbling away that will become a haven to vandals and crime – or Aldi.
“Empty, boarded-up sites in town centres breed more empty sites – town centres decay bit by bit.
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“The shopping centre owners have worked tirelessly to keep shops open so we have the busy town centre we want.
“As a community we need that site in use helping our town centre thrive.
“Leave this empty and one by one all the rest of Riverside will struggle, but if Aldi goes ahead, it will help all the other shops, and that will help our town centre.
“It’s not what we want but it’s the only option other than decay and dereliction.”
Cllr Willmore, who called-in the application to the committee, said she did not object to the plans but wanted the issues raised transparently in public.
She said her reasons for the call-in, such as the need to consider wildlife at an adjacent protected woodland, noise for neighbours, and safety concerns at a pedestrian bridge to the retail park and for children in the car park, had all been either addressed or would be agreed in further discussions between Aldi and council officers before the development could take place.
Cllr Liz Brennan (Conservative, Frenchay & Downend), who also called-in the application and did not object in principle, told the meeting: “Replacing this facility with retail dilutes the original purpose of the development and the balance of uses in the town centre.
“The long-term consequences may be less vibrant, less inclusive and less diverse community space.
“The proposed change of use raises real concern about traffic flow, site access and parking pressures.
She said Aldi would attract a lot more cars than the cinema did and that more pressure would be placed on Riverside’s free car park because of the introduction of charges at the council’s car parks.
Cllr Brennan said: “This application represents a pivotal decision for Yate’s future.
“While the arrival of a new retailer might bring short-term gains, it’s essential to weigh this against the long-term loss of community space and the impact on infrastructure and overall vision for Yate as a balanced, inclusive place to live.”
Yate Shopping Centre and Yate Riverside manager Andy Lowrey told councillors: “These plans present a big opportunity to repurpose and reinvigorate a vacant unit.
“I know residents are disappointed that Cineworld left last year.
“A robust marketing exercise showed no viable interest from leisure operators.
“Working very closely with the cinema managers, they advised me that they just didn’t see the numbers to support that cinema.
“From what we heard from our customers, people were leaving Yate and driving to Longwell Green to use the Vue there because the prices were cheaper.
“However, the cinema was brand new, the owners of the site at the time spent over £4million building the cinema, the owners then contributed £1million to the fit-out.
“Unfortunately around two years prior to Cineworld’s closure we watched in America as they hit troubles there and we were very aware that at some point the cinema would close.
“In that time we worked very hard to try to attract a different cinema operator to the town or an alternative leisure use.
“Unfrotunately that wasn’t viable.
“With there being no chance of a cinema returning to Yate, the choice is for the unit to remain empty or to bring more footfall to the town, more investment with an award-winning and popular investor.
“Having the new store will help us keep more customers in Yate.”
Principal planning officer Suzanne D’Arcy, who recommended approval, said the developers intended to extend security railings to make the pedestrian bridge safer and that a condition had been agreed to protect the nearby nature reserve.
She said other conditions would restrict the shop’s floorspace to protect town centre stores and limit delivery hours.
Aldi is set to open early next year with the creation of up to 40 new jobs.
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