With a decision on the proposed Aldi store on Winchelsea Road in Rye imminent, the war of words between retail consultants continues.
Aldi’s representatives – Avison Young – say the planned supermarket’s customers would have 45 to 50 minutes to visit other shops and services in Rye, before returning to their cars in the food store’s carpark.
Meanwhile, Jempson’s consultant – Peacock and Smith – has dismissed those arguments and doubled down on its threat of action in the courts if the new supermarket receives the go ahead from planners, warning “an approval could invite a legal challenge on the soundness of any such decision”.
In a briefing note to Rother District Council lodged on September 30, Avison Young asserts that Aldi customers would average about 25 minutes in the store — based on a comparable group supermarket — and that the walking time into central Rye would be 8-10 minutes. Customers would be able to use Aldi’s carpark for up to 90 minutes.
Aldi would also be prepared to contribute £15,000 towards improving the walking route between its supermarket and the town centre, if the store receives planning permission.
Avison Young point out the Rother Core Strategy “includes a requirement for 1,650 sq m net additional convenience floorspace within or adjacent to the town centre of Rye” and that a second supermarket would reduce the need for car trips out of Rye.
In a reply dated October 8, Peacock & Smith claimed it is unlikely that Aldi would generate a significant number of linked trips and would be “a stand alone, car-based development”.
The consultant also questioned Avison’s figures for the average time customers would spend in Aldi and described Aldi’s offer of £15,000 for improvements to the public realm along the walking route as “a token financial contribution by Aldi”. Aldi says the improvements will be decided in consultation with the local planning authority and relevant stakeholders.
P&S avoided mention of Jempson’s own Rye dwell time figures used in Avison’s note and neither consultant referred to the issue of supermarket competition in Rye that has always been the main — but often unspoken — factor in the battle for Rye’s lucrative grocery business.
Earlier this autumn an independent report by Nexus found that “linked trips” to Rye town centre would be fewer if an Aldi were to open at the edge-of-centre Winchelsea Road site. The consultant’s response argues that linked trips would be possible from the new Aldi store.
According to Connect Consultants, a survey of Jempson’s customers earlier this year showed that of those respondents making a linked trip, 62.7% were proposing to spend less than half an hour in Rye and 17.4% between 30 minutes and an hour.
The Nexus report also says Jempson’s central Rye supermarket could suffer a 37% turnover loss if Aldi established itself. Notwithstanding this, Jempson’s carpark, because of its position, plays a key role in the “retail health” of Rye town centre. It will be one of the many factors RDC will consider when reaching a planning decision.
More than 16 months after Aldi lodged its planning application, the end-game seems to have been reached and there’s speculation that an RDC decision will be announced by Christmas.
The new supermarket on Winchelsea Road also includes retirement housing and homes.
Image Credits: Harris Partnership .
It is interesting reading the arguments by both supermarkets on the ongoing saga in the supermarkets battle,especially as we voted for the neighbourhood plan, that recommend an additional food store in this town., if Rother planners refuse Aldi, it will make a mockery of the neighbourhood plan,that we all put our faith in to deliver for our town.
A PERSONAL VIEW:
Would Aldi match the fresh grocery policy of Jempsons and buy produce locally? Almost certainly no (certainly not seen any such policy paper).
Would drawing supermarket shopping away from Jempsons see a drop in visitors to Rye (which currently come from Jempsons car park)? Almost certainly yes.
So, I ask, why is this scheme being allowed? My view is that it will take money away from local shops (and I include Jempsons in this observation).
Jempson’s buy some fruit and veg locally but the the rest is Morrisons. How would another supermarket draw visitors away from the town? They don’t want to visit a supermarket, they come to enjoy our medieval town.
As for Jempson’s resistance to Aldi, employing a consultant to oppose the planning speaks volumes, they’re worried!
Rye needs some competition to Jempson’s, they’re too cosy with the monopoly and Morrisons are bottom of any supermarket league in my opinion.
I don’t agree with that. I see so many different delivery vans in my road delivering from Tesco’s, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons, Waitrose never have I seen a Jempsons delivery van, which means almost 26 houses in my road spending their money outside of this town.
I will openly say I cannot afford to shop in Jempsons a comparable shop that I do in Tesco’s and have delivered it almost £48 cheaper than what it would cost in Jempsons for the SAME Products. I want to have the choice of variety and an Aldi would provide that as well with more affordable shopping and at least my money would be spent in the town of Rye.
why are you all afraid of another supermarket in rye? a bit of competition hurt no one. the locals have the right to choose, no one owns us or our town. no one will stop visiting rye its self if we have more than one supermarket. there are other attractions in rye to go and see and those that wish to go over to the salts, visit the various churches, go up the high street will still do so. the various antique and coffee shops are still there nothing will change except the residents of rye will have a choice . last time i looked this was supposed to be a democracy. to jrnaylor what local shops there is only jempsons