The managing director of supermarket giant Aldi has confirmed work on a planned store in Peterhead will start “as soon as possible”.
The budget chain first raised the prospect of building an outlet in the town more than a decade ago but it was not until last year that planning permission in principle was agreed.
The deal was subject to conditions including an archaeological investigation of the Kirkburn Mill site and a formal demolition plan for a block of flats on the land.
But although those hurdles were cleared by January this year, no visible construction work has begun on the site.
Now the managing director of the German firm, Richard Holloway, has confirmed that work at the site is imminent.
In a letter to local MSP Stewart Stevenson, Mr Holloway said: “Having recently received planning consent, we are now undertaking a series of complex tests to fully assess the works required to build a store on the site.
“We are of course working to start construction as soon as possible and understand from previous engagement that the community are eager to see the store opened.”
Mr Stevenson, who has pushed for work to begin, welcomed the news.
“I am pleased that Aldi have confirmed once again their commitment to Peterhead and it does appear that work is going on in the background in order to get to a position where construction on the site can start,” he said.
Mr Stevenson added that the land – which is at the entrance to the town centre – has “lain vacant for too long” and has suffered vandalism as a result.
Aldi has been granted permission to tear down the three-storey block of derelict flats on the site, which was formerly a textile mill.
In its place the firm is planning to build two separate stores and a car park for 150 shoppers. They have said the project could create 30 jobs and bring £2.5million into the town’s economy.
In the first phase Aldi will build its own supermarket unit, before later building a second store which will be leased out.
