WINDSOR will see an Aldi supermarket move onto a garden centre site as councillors give plans the thumbs up – but with conditions.

The existing Windsor Garden Centre on Dedworth Road will now be demolished and redeveloped into the discount supermarket with 113 car parking spaces.

Around 30 to 40 jobs will be created as a result of the opening.

Planning officers recommended that members of the Royal Borough Development and Management panel approve the application as it is appropriate development on green belt with “minimal impact” and it will not impact the area’s character and appearance or traffic and noise pollution.

Vicky Gibson, planning officer, said timber cladding will 'enhance' the stores appearance and the building will be kept low in height at 5.5 metres approximately.

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The scheme was amended to close the shop at 5pm on Sundays as opposed to 6pm and lights from the store need to be off from 10.30pm to 7am Monday to Saturday.

A tree will have to be removed – but the applicants said 17 trees will be planted around the supermarket in its place.

However, public speakers raised numerous concerns at the panel meeting on October 21 (Wednesday).

Campaigners feared the supermarket’s impact on the nearby mental health hospital, Cardinal Clinic, and that the increased noise pollution and traffic would cause disruption and disturbance to patients.

Panel members approved a condition that no parking or storage of goods in association with Aldi is allowed to the rear of the building to reduce disruption to outpatients of the neighbouring clinic.

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Speaking on behalf of multiple objectors, Peter Lerner disagreed with planning officers, saying the development is “inappropriate” in the green belt and there is no special circumstance for it to be built on a green belt site.

Concerns were raised that the Aldi store will impact the Old Farmhouse, a grade II* listed building, which is adjacent to the site.

It was also heard the redevelopment of the garden centre would be a “great loss” to the community.

Alan Williams, planning agent for Aldi, argued the plans will create a new community and the plans went through public consultation with 83 per cent of the 1,096 residents involved in favour of the store being developed at the garden centre.

He added the plans will not impact the adjacent listed building and planning officers concluding it will “unlikely” increase traffic on the road with other aspects of the application deemed acceptable.

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It was heard this meeting wasn’t about saving the garden centre as Aldi could “move in the next day” without councillors imposing any conditions.

Councillor Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrats: Furze Platt), who voted for approval, said the plans have improved with the designs “being a lot nicer”.

He said: “I think it’s important to note that refusing this application doesn’t actually mean we get to keep a garden centre.

“We may all like to keep the garden centre – but the ownerships could just decide to close the site tomorrow and we will end up with a derelict site.”

He added: “It is important to recognise that Aldi could walk in tomorrow to the store. So, actually, this is a much better proposal.”

Councillor Leo Walters (Conservative: Bray) – who was the only panel member to abstain – said he felt it was “wrong” to approve the plans following the concerns from the campaigners.