Planning permission for a new Aldi store in Seaton has been given the go ahead by East Devon District Council.

Work to create the new supermarket is now expected to commence in early 2023 at the former Co-op store on The Underfleet, which closed down in July.

Aldi 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 said the changes would "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 added: "The provision of a discount food retail outlet will provide a valuable service to the local community."

Development will see the existing projecting gable features and shopfront removed, an extension of the store forwards and 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 shopfront 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 will be added to the northern side of the store. This will house staff welfare accommodation and permanent access to the first floor plant areas. 

Finally, a single storey warehouse extension will be built at the rear of the store within the confines of the existing service yard.

The 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.