Aldi has unveiled its renewed plans for a store in Macduff – saying a new “masterplan” will help to see the idea finally come to fruition.
More than 100 residents attended a public consultation held by the discount retailer on Thursday night at Macduff’s Buchan Hall.
The event gave locals the chance to view the revised plan and have their say on the proposal – with one excited resident saying she had her shopping list ready to go.
A masterplan submitted with the new Duff Street store includes plans for 22 homes and a potential GP surgery.
‘We are putting our best foot forward’
The supermarket giant was given the go-ahead to build the store last year but rivals Tesco launched legal action and the permission was quashed.
But an Aldi spokesman on hand at the event revealed the reworked plan should have a greater chance of being passed, with no room for loopholes to be exploited.
He explained: “We believe that our application for a store would be better served if it is underpinned with a masterplan.
“That will be submitted before we bring forward a redetermination of our detailed application for the store.
“You can never be certain that things are going to be approved but we’ve put our very best foot forward and hope that the proposals are consented.”
Aldi store will help Macduff save money
The spokesman noted there was a “buzz” in the hall and believed there was “real enthusiasm” for the new supermarket.
He explained: “We know that people are travelling far and wide for their shopping and that’s not ideal.
“This offers the opportunity for people to shop locally and save money, whether it be fuel bills because they are driving to an Aldi store further afield or shopping with alternative supermarkets that have a higher pricing model than our own.
“Everyone recognises that there is an opportunity to shop in the store in Macduff and save money and that is clearly very appealing.”
When would the new Macduff Aldi store open?
Aldi is hoping to have the revised proposals approved within the next six to eight months.
And if all goes to plan, construction would start in a year’s time with an aim to open before the end of 2024.
The spokesman added: “It’s probably a bit tight but we are really pushing to try and deliver on that.”
What do locals think of the new plans?
Richard Low was one of the local residents who attended the public consultation for the new store.
He told us he was in favour of Aldi opening, explaining: “We’ve been needing a supermarket for a very long time.
“If you asked a cross section of Macduff residents where they do their main shop, most would say Huntly because you’ve got Asda and Tesco, there’s a massive Tesco in Buckie or you go down to Fraserburgh.
“Bring it on, it’s going to be an asset to the town.”
Residents hope shop will be the ‘start of something really good’
Lyz Logue believes the store will bring a much-needed boost to the area.
She said: “It shows that Aldi has confidence in the area and it hopefully will give others the confidence to come in to Macduff because it is needed, everything’s closing.
“The sooner the better, let’s hope this is the start of something really good for Macduff.”
Meanwhile Paul Gleisner hopes it will bring more footfall to Macduff.
He said: “We need to invigorate the place.
“When we get Aldi I wouldn’t bother going anywhere else because the amount of money you are going to save on fuel and the hassle of having to drive elsewhere.”
‘The sooner the better’
Another Macduff resident, who didn’t want to be named said: “We’ve been looking forward to a decent shop for years and people will come from Turriff, Buckie and Fraserburgh.
“I just hope that they stay and don’t just come up for Aldi and then go home, I’m sure in the nicer days they will make a day of it and go to the aquarium.”
They added: “I’m really excited, the sooner the better.”
Aldi will welcome additional feedback until Thursday, May 4.
To view the proposals and have your say, visit the consultation site here.
Read about the public meeting held after the plans were scuppered here.
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