Aldi submits plans to extend former Co-op store in Seaton

Supermarket chain Aldi have submitted plans to extend the former Co-op store in Seaton before opening next year. 

The Co-op store on The Underfleet closed in July with Aldi announcing it would be taking over the store next year. It has now applied to East Devon District Council to extend the building to create a larger store, including new welfare, warehouse and retail accommodation, the installation of external plant and minor amendments to the car park park and service yard areas. 

The application says the changes will "re-invigorate an existing retail site and help maintain continued investment and jobs within the local area", and would "breath new life into an ageing building". 

It adds: "The provision of a discount food retail outlet will provide a valuable service to the local community."

To the front of the store, facing the car park, it is proposed to remove the projecting gable features and shopfront, extend the store forwards and provide a welcoming, contemporary entrance with a glazed lobby beneath a cantilevered canopy. 

The elevation will be finished with a new parapet feature fronting the car park, which will wrap around the south-east and south-west corners to bookend the store. 

This parapet will be finished in vertically laid, metal cladding, echoing the finishes on the neighbouring gym and retail building, formerly the Grove.

Full height shop front glazing will be installed to the south-west elevation and to a bay on the north-west elevation. This will "increase natural light into the building and enhance interaction with the car park and surrounding businesses through the increase in active frontage". 

A single and two storey extension is proposed to the northern side of the store. This will house staff welfare accommodation and permanent access to the first floor plant areas. 

The extension has been designed to be in keeping with the original store building; walls are to be finished in red facing brickwork to match the existing and the roof is a continuation of the existing fabric. 

This accommodation has been located to the Northern side of the building to avoid impacting on residential properties to the south-east. 

Finally, a single storey warehouse extension is proposed to the rear of the store within the confines of the existing service yard. The design of this element has been "carefully considered" to avoid impacting on neighbouring properties. 

The proposed car park will provide 118 customer spaces, including six spaces for disabled users and six parent and child designated spaces. Secure cycle parking will be provided for up to eight bicycles and four spaces will be provided with electric vehicle charging points, with an additional 20 spaces equipped for future conversion as and when demand increases.