Plans to build a new Aldi supermarket in Keynsham are at risk of being rejected amid concerns that the development would cause severe traffic congestion on local roads. Despite receiving strong public support, with nearly 200 residents backing the proposal, council officers are advising Bath and North East Somerset Council’s planning committee to refuse planning permission.
Aldi’s proposal to locate the new store opposite Keynsham Recycling Centre on World’s End Lane promises to enhance shopping options and serve the community. However, the site’s proximity to key local facilities has raised alarms about the potential for long queues that could disrupt traffic flow.
The council’s planning officers highlighted the lack of evidence from Aldi demonstrating that the development would not have a “severe cumulative impact” on the surrounding road network, a crucial requirement under planning regulations. They described the projected level of congestion as significant enough to impede access to vital areas, including the primary industrial estate, the recycling centre, and the police station.
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According to the council’s highways department, the expected traffic buildup could prompt risky driver behaviour as motorists attempt to navigate the anticipated jams. Major delays are predicted on Pixash Lane and Broadmead Lane, the key routes connecting to the A4, although the main road itself is unlikely to be directly affected.
In response, Aldi’s planning team pointed out that Broadmead Lane is expected to reach traffic capacity by 2032 regardless of their development, and they have proposed measures aimed at mitigating traffic pressures. A statement to the council argued, “It is not the Aldi development causing severe traffic issues in Keynsham, but existing and committed traffic flows.”
Meanwhile, competition is heating up in Keynsham’s retail sector, with Lidl recently announcing plans for a new supermarket on Broadmead Lane, opposite the Waitrose store.
The planning committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, June 10, at 10 am in the council chamber at Bath’s Guildhall to make a decision on the Aldi application.