Plans for a new supermarket near Stockport town centre have been given the green light.

A 1,315 sqm store will be built on the site of the former Hope Mill on Water Street, based off the Portwood roundabout by the M60.

The plans include creating 113 parking spaces for cars, as well as accessible bays, spaces for families, electric vehicle charging spaces, and a space for bicycles.

An application was made to Stockport council by Morbaine Limited for a supermarket with a ‘discount’ brand, which is intended to be used by Aldi.

Council officers said Aldi has told them it is planning to leave its New Bridge Lane store to move to the new site at Portwood roundabout, but added there is “no guarantee” of the move in the planning application.

The new supermarket store will be based next to an existing Tesco Extra, and both Tesco and Lidl submitted objections to the plans for a new supermarket at the site.

Councillors on Stockport’s planning committee supported the plans at a town hall meeting on November 14, despite concerns over traffic and parking.

Cllr Rachel Wise said it is “absolutely vital that people have access to discount shopping” and a “choice” of supermarkets to use.

Cllr Liz Crix pointed out that people visiting the site from the Lancashire Hill flats would have to use an “unlit” path going over a bridge, and said it could create health and safety risks.

Other councillors raised concerns about the car park layout, saying it could be confusing to drivers, and that a plan for HGVs to reverse into the car park between the parent and child parking bays and disability bays could cause problems.

Despite the concerns, the application was approved with a condition to review the car park layout.

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