The potential opening date for a new £6.3 million supermarket in the Stewartry has been pushed back.
Aldi had been hoping to open a branch on Oakwell Road in Castle Douglas by Christmas next year.
But when the German firm announced a drop-in session to allow people to view the plans next week, it stated it hopes “the new store will be welcoming shoppers by mid-2024”.
Planning permission for the site – currently occupied by a garden centre – has yet to be granted, with the council recently agreeing to extend the deadline for a decision to be made to the end of October.
However, it does not appear on the agenda for next week’s meeting of the planning applications committee.
An Aldi spokesman said the new date was a more realistic aim due to the work that would still be required if planning permission was granted.
The company has stated that the store will create as many as 35 jobs and “acceptable levels” of trade diversions without significantly affecting “the vitality or viability of any protected centre”.
However, an independent retail review claims “the scale of the proposal is too large for Castle Douglas without risking closures”.
People will have a chance to view the plans and meet the project team in Castle Douglas Town Hall on Wednesday, October 12 between 4pm and 7pm.
An Aldi spokeswoman said: “The valuable feedback received so far is greatly appreciated and we’re keen to meet the local community to gain further input.
“We were thrilled to receive a significant level of positive feedback with 310 local residents (91 per cent of respondents) writing to confirm their support for our proposals.
“At Aldi, we have always valued the involvement of the local community and other interested stakeholders.
“Due to Covid-19, we were unable to hold traditional in-person public exhibitions earlier this year.
“However, we understand that the local community is keen to learn more, and we are delighted to be holding an in-person drop-in session. This will provide an opportunity for members of the public to view our detailed consultation material and put their questions and feedback directly to the project team.
The spokeswoman added: “I would encourage anyone with an interest in the Castle Douglas store to come along to our event, hear about our plans and, importantly, provide us with your feedback.
Those who can’t attend can view the exhibition boards online at https://aldiconsultation.co.uk/castledouglas/
