The appeal relates to an application by Aldi Stores Ltd for a food store and care home.
The supermarket chain's proposals were refused by Wealden District Council last year. Reasons given were concerns over highway safety, tree loss, ecology and drainage. At the time the council said the proposed access arrangements for the site would give rise to 'unacceptable highway safety risks'' while the removal of a substantial number of trees would cause 'significant harm' to the area. It also said insufficient information had been provided to fully assess the potential impacts of the development on protected species.
As part of their consultation, Aldi said the site comprised scrub land which forms part of the wider 'Land at South Polegate Strategic Development Area' identified for development in the council's adopted and emerging Local Plan.
Aldi said, since the refusal, they have continued to work closely with the Highway Authority and local authority to overcome the reasons for refusal. The submitted application included a smaller food store and additional electric vehicle charging points. The Aldi store was proposed in detail and the care home proposed in outline, only applying for the principle of development. It would be scheduled to occupy a site of just under two acres, have a height of three floors and house from 75-100 beds.
Aldi comments that their store would complement the local amenities, creating opportunities for convenient, linked trips which support the needs of residents.
They also said its proximity to the residential area of Polegate ensures it is possible for the store to be reached by residents without the use of a car, promoting sustainable development. Aldi also said they wanted to offer Polegate residents access to their low-cost high quality produce.
Cllr David Watts, chair of Planning for Polegate Town Council said: "We wanted to keep residents informed that the planning appeal for the proposed new supermarket has been allowed. Many of Polegate Town Council’s objections have been taken into account, with amendments made to the scheme as a result.
"The access issues we raised are being addressed through the amendments put forward, and both the Planning Inspectorate and the Highway Authority now consider these arrangements acceptable.
"The issue of increased traffic associated with a store in this location remains a concern. However, Polegate Town Council is not the planning authority and can only make comments and recommendations on planning applications. In this case, many of the concerns raised by the Council have been addressed through the appeal process."
The Planning Inspector concluded that changes made during the appeal process addressed the previous concerns regarding highway access and safety. Planning permission has now been granted subject to a number of conditions.