A new Aldi supermarket on the outskirts of Dundee has been recommended for refusal by city councillors.
The German company wants to build a new store on land between the Arbroath Road and Tom Johnston Road at West Pitkerro Industrial Estate.
But Dundee City councillors have been urged to reject the planning application.
In its application, Aldi states the new store would serve residents living in Mid-Craigie, Douglas and Broughty Ferry as well as those living in Monifieth.
It also states the store would be build on land that has been vacant for over a decade. It was first allocated for business use 13 years ago and has been on the market, without significant interest, for 10 years.
The store would be Aldi’s fourth in Dundee. It already has supermarkets in Arbroath Road near the Kingsway, Lochee and at Myrekirk.
Aldi has stated it wants to have at least five supermarkets in Dundee.
But council officers have recommend the plan is rejected because it is not in accordance with the city’s development plan, which has earmarked the land as an area of principal economic development.
These are intended for business, rather than retail use.
Officers also have concerns about shoppers crossing busy roads to reach the new supermarket and an overabundance of supermarkets in Dundee, including the nearby Sainsbury’s.
A report to go before Dundee City Council’s planning committee on Monday states: “There is an existing large food store adjacent to the site which carries discounted ranges and provides convenient food store shopping opportunities for the residential populating in this area.
“The eastern part of the city is served by Broughty Ferry district centre where there is M&S and Tesco, a larger Tesco in Monifieth and an existing Aldi on Arbroath Road which are all easily accessibly by a range of transport methods and provide further choice within this sector.”
The report also states it is likely the new store would not create any new jobs, as it would take custom away from Aldi’s existing supermarkets.
It states: “If the food store were to result in a net increase in jobs then this would be a consideration in favour of the development.
“In their planning and retail statement the applicant concludes that a new food store in this location will displace trade from existing food stores in the city.
“By the same reasoning, any resulting job creating will be as a result of the displacement of jobs from those other stores.”
Councillors will decide on the application on Monday.
Aldi did not respond to a request for comment.
