AN APPLICATION to bring a convenience store back to Winklebury has been formally submitted.

Supermarket chain ALDI has already agreed a deal with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to take over the site in Winklebury Way, which has been vacant since March 2017.

Now, a planning application has been submitted which, if approved, would create up to 40 new jobs, which ALDI will actively seek to recruit from the local area.

The proposal seeks to demolish the old Budgens building to replace it with a new build.

The planning statement from ALDI read: “It will provide a valuable contribution towards the local convenience shopping provision by introducing additional neighbourhood shopping facilities in Basingstoke.

“The store would also improve the range of local facilities and choice available for shoppers in an accessible location and help retain expenditure in the local area.

“The store would therefore support the local economy, assist in meeting existing and future retail floorspace needs, as well as increasing social inclusion through the provision of local job opportunities and high quality, low priced goods.”

The plan includes parking provision for up to 100 vehicles as well as located blue badge spaces, and bicycle lock up.

With Basingstoke already having a number of the major supermarkets, ALDI states though there will be some competition the overall impact on these stores will be low.

The planning statement added: “Although the proposed ALDI store will divert some expenditure from in-centre convenience stores, the majority of its turnover will be derived from the edge and out-of-centre foodstores.

“The level of diversion from the centres as a whole is considered to be and, in our view will not in any way, adversely affect their trading performance and function.”

To view or comment on the application, go to planning.basingstoke.gov.uk and search for 18/01559/FUL.