Plans for a new Aldi supermarket in Amersham have hit yet another stumbling block after a decision by Buckinghamshire Council was delayed again.

Aldi first put forward plans to open a new site at the old Jaguar garage on London Road West three years ago.

After months of delays, it seemed like approval or rejection of the plans was imminent as the East Buckinghamshire Area Planning Committee met yesterday (May 28) to discuss the proposal.

However, the committee chairman chose instead to postpone the meeting until Wednesday, June 12, for "operational reasons".

A spokesperson for Bucks Council added that the postponement was "not related to any application on the agenda" and said there would be "no alterations to the applications on the agenda" when the committee reconvenes in two weeks' time. 

Planning officers have recommended that councillors defer the application to Bucks Council’s planning director to grant permission for the development.

The plans went before the councillors for the first time in April, but a decision was postponed while several issues related to the project were ironed out.

Councillors said they wanted:

- To consider a planning condition to restrict HGV movements within the site to reduce conflict with customers and cars during the day.

- Aldi to revisit the design of the building, specifically addressing the use of materials on the outside of the supermarket.

- Planning officers to re-visit a condition to shorten the delivery and waste collection period at the supermarket by one hour from 11pm to 10pm.

- Aldi to look at the provision of a ‘left-hand turn only’ exit in order to prevent potential ‘traffic conflicts’.

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Aldi said its new food store would be open from 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and from 10am to 5pm on Sundays.

The supermarket would have warehouse space and staff accommodation on the first floor above a ground-level shop floor of 1195m2.

The car park will provide a total of 101 customer spaces, including five disabled bays and five for parents and children.

There will also be cycle parking, as well as four electric vehicles charging parking spaces, with infrastructure installed for the conversion of a further 19 such spaces in the future.

One of the existing vehicle entrances to the site will be maintained, while another will be closed off, according to Aldi’s plans.

Meanwhile, a pedestrian footpath is proposed along the front of the site, with a pedestrian entrance adjacent to vehicle entrance.

More than 1,500 letters of support have been received for Aldi’s plans – although many are very brief and submitted on photocopied forms, with some from people who live outside of Amersham.