SUPERMARKET giant Aldi has restarted its bid to build a new store in an East Lancashire town after a seven-month delay.

The German discount chain originally applied for planning permission for the development in Westgate, Burnley, in April last year.

In August it withdrew the application to provide more information to town hall officials.

Now it has submitted a new one to Burnley Council for the 1,315 square metre outlet.

Supporting statements submitted with the new application say: "The site occupies a prominent location on the northern side of Westgate and is currently occupied by a Nissan car dealership car park.

"The site is proposed to be accessed via the existing access junction off Westgate.

"The junction to join the M65 will be just 750 metres west of the site, and the A682 just 800 metres south.

"It is evident that the land’s redevelopment has potential to bring about significant economic, environmental and visual improvements by replacing what is currently an underused site with a modern, foodstore set within attractive landscaping.

"Materials will be utilised which provide a sympathetic approach to the surrounding architecture whist designing a building with strong clean lines in a contemporary manner.

"The scheme proposes a combination of stonework, glazing and vertically-laid composite cladding.

"Glazing is located to the south west corner wrapping around the entrance lobby and all along the western elevation providing natural light into the sales area.

"The building will benefit from a striking ‘blade-roof’ feature.

"The extensive use of glazing will offer views into the sales area for passers-by along Westgate.

"The proposed foodstore would be broadly the height of a two-storey residential property.

"An anthracite grey canopy wraps around the South-West corner over the entrance and glazing and helps to provide shelter from the elements as well as enhance the main entrance for visitors.

"Aldi operate as a ‘deep-discount’ retailer. The number of core food product lines stocked within each store is identical and deliberately restricted to around 2,000.

"The core retail offer seeks to replicate the most regularly purchased items within a family’s weekly or ‘bulk’ food shopping trip.

"The vast majority of products stocked are Aldi branded

"The potential for cross-over with the offer of independent high-street retailers is far less than for ‘mainstream’ food retailers.

"The company does not promote 24-hour trading. Accordingly, Aldi could accept a planning condition setting out minimum opening hours of 08:00 hours to 22:00 hours Mondays to Saturdays and 09:00 hours to 18:00 hours on Sundays."

Andy Turner Chairman of the Chorley Group said: "We welcome the decision and are very supportive. For Chorley Nissan it means we’ll be able to expand and enhance our offer on the site.

"This will include attracting additional franchises. We will be creating numerous new jobs as a result."