Both Tesco and Lidl have objected to plans for a new Aldi superstore.

Proposals for the supermarket at the Paragon business park in Horwich are set to go before Bolton council’s planning committee on Thursday, July 18.

The discount supermarket giant intends to build a 1,800 sq ft store, creating between 40 and 50 jobs, on Chorley New Road, close to the notoriously congested Beehive roundabout. Access into proposed supermarket will be from a new slip road entrance on Chorley New Road, near the roundabout.

Vehicles will exit from a different junction onto De Havilland Way, controlled by traffic lights. A 145-space car park is proposed with nine parent and child and nine accessible spaces.

Four spaces will have electric vehicle charging points with infrastructure built for a further 20. The application has received two petitions of support containing 95 names.

The council has also received 31 objections citing loss of green space, increased traffic and pollution, flood risk and dangers for pedestrians crossing Chorley New Road.

Supermarket rivals Lidl and Tesco, the latter of which has a large outlet nearby at the entrance to the Middlebrook retail park, have both objected to the plans.

Lidl’s objections are based on loss of employment land and potential highways and transport issues. Tesco said there had been ‘inadequate retail assessment of the impact on Horwich town centre’ and also cited loss of employment land.

Horwich Town Council have raised an objection ‘due to concerns about traffic congestion on Chorley New Road and ‘lack of consultation as it appears only a few households have been consulted’.

Cllr David Grant objected to the access along DeHavilland Way due to ‘dangers from vehicle speeds conflicting with vehicles leaving the site’ along with increased congestion and pollution.

Planning officers at Bolton Council have recommended approval of the scheme.

A report by them, to be put before councillors, said: “Loss of allocated employment land is negligible compared to the overall supply. “The sequential test is passed as there are no better alternative sites within, on the edge or out of Horwich town centre.

“The proposed development would not have a harmful impact on the vitality and viability of  town centre and would not result in a ‘significant adverse’ impact on any existing, committed or planned retail investment within Horwich town centre.

The report added that ‘traffic should be accommodated with an element of network performance benefit and minimal detriment’.

Aldi has an existing Horwich town centre store around a mile away on Mason Street and its retail statement confirmed they have no plans to close it.