Construction starts on controversial new Aldi food store in Porthcawl

PROGRESS on a controversial new food store in Porthcawl has taken a significant step forward.

Preparatory work on the new Aldi food store, on land at the north side of Salt Lake in Porthcawl, began on Monday, April 25.

Temporary boundary fencing has been erected around the site to ensure the store can be constructed safely with minimum inconvenience.

Throughout the works, public car parking will remain available at Salt Lake and Hillsboro Place, which is directly opposite the construction site.

It is anticipated that the store will open in autumn 2023.

Plans for the two-acre site have been met with a mixed reaction from residents.

“I don’t think we need another supermarket,” said Newton resident Janet Davies. “The smaller independent shops will suffer [and I] would rather see something else to enhance Porthcawl – not a supermarket.”

The development at Salt Lake is part of a wider regeneration project on Porthcawl’s seafront.

Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC) is planning to construct a new multi-storey car park nearby during future stages of the project.

Earlier in March, the council also confirmed plans for a luxury hotel on the seafront and an update to earlier plans for housing on Salt Lake.

The land earmarked for housing has been reduced by a third and will include a new park.

The design for the store will feature a ‘wave’ motif and use wood and limestone to create a landmark gateway to the town.

When complete, the site will be extensively landscaped and will include elements of public art.

It will also feature 114 car parking spaces, including five designated blue badge spaces and seven parent and child parking spaces.

In addition, the new development will provide four ‘live’ electric vehicle charging points and include provision for 20 more.

Porthcawl resident Gemma Lewis said:

“The choice of location for a food store is still very questionable.

“I still believe that choosing to build it in a less prominent location, a little out of view, would have been favourable. Only because it is the beautiful coastline people want to see and not a foodstore.

“However, it is happening and I think it’s time to just be grateful that it’s going to create some revenue and provide some additional funding to landscape the surrounding area.

“I just really hope it doesn’t negatively compete with the high street.”

When further details of its plans for a food store in Porthcawl were revealed in August last year, Aldi said the development will reduce the need for people to travel further afield to do their shopping and that it will create at least 40 jobs.