A new report claims Aldi’s plans for a £6.3 million store in the Stewartry could put other shops out of business.
The German firm wants to develop a site at Oakwell Road in Castle Douglas, with a retail statement released earlier this year claiming the development would not have a “significantly adverse” impact on the town centre.
But an independent retail review carried out for the council as part of the planning process disagrees.
It states: “Our forecast levels of retail impact are very high. The scale of the proposal is too large for Castle Douglas without risking closures, especially in the town centre.”
Aldi lodged plans to develop the site – currently occupied by a garden centre – earlier this year.
It hopes to have the food store up and running by Christmas next year, with up to 35 jobs being created.
The town already has two supermarkets – a Tesco and a Co-op – and Aldi’s experts believed a new store would create “‘acceptable levels’ of trade diversions without significantly affecting the vitality or viability of any protected centre”.
And they also found a need for a store due to the number of shoppers heading to Dumfries.
Their report stated: “This leakage and the unsustainable shopping patterns that result, will continue without more local choice being provided.”
But a retail impact assessment and a review of the retail statement by independent experts Roderick MacLean Associates Ltd paints a different picture.
It states: “Castle Douglas has a range of good quality small convenience shops in the town centre, plus Tesco and the Co-op supermarkets on the edge of centre. The overall offer is good.
“There is no qualitative deficiency in our opinion.”
Aldi’s planning bid is expected to be considered by councillors before the end of the year.
