Plans for a budget supermarket store to be built next to Edgbaston Cricket Ground has been approved despite complaints from some residents that it will lower the tone of the area.
As well as worries over traffic congestion, particularly on busy Test Match days, residents turned their noses up at the Aldi scheme, saying that the cut price grocer did not fit in the area and would drive down house prices.
The supermarket is the first part of the wider commercial development which will see upmarket hotels, offices, shops, apartments, bars and restaurants built next to the cricket stadium – itself undergoing a major redevelopment.
Plans for the 14,000sq ft store on the Edgbaston Mill site owned by Calthorpe Estates was approved by city planners.
A total of 18 residents of The Ashes apartment complex, who had asked to speak against the proposals at a committee meeting, failed to attend.
There has been a mixed response from residents, with 23 writing in favour, and 43 against. Many of those come from the Hemisphere apartment complex. Supportive comments backed the design and welcomed a supermarket within walking distance of many homes.
Those against demanded a “higher quality” retailer and claimed Aldi would downgrade the development and cut house prices.
One resident said: “This Edgbaston Mill development is aimed at creating an attractive location to match apartment prices. Aldi does not sit in this band as a limited range retailer who has greater attraction to discount consumers.”
There are also concerns, backed by local councillor Deirdre Alden, that there will be traffic chaos.
Coun Alden (Cons, Edgbaston) said: “There is potential added traffic congestion in an area which is already very congested on big match days.
“There already plans passed for shops, offices and homes on the cricket ground car park so this is going to become a very busy corner.”
But officers said the impact on traffic would be minimal and approved the scheme.
