GERMAN supermarket giant Aldi will open a new store in Westhoughton after plans were approved.

Bolton Council’s planning committee rubber stamped proposals to build the discount food store on the site of the former Glebe Mill off Bolton Road.

The scheme will also see a council car park in Bolton Road built upon — with a new 76 space public car park created on land off Library Street.

Aldi will also create its own customer car park — of 98 spaces — at the front of the new store.  Councillors voted unanimously to approve the project — which Aldi said will create more than 50 jobs that will be prioritised for local people.

And planning officers insisted that the well-used public car park will not be shut until the replacement is formed.

The Westhoughton project is another example of Aldi investing in Bolton, with a store currently being built on the former Mecca Bingo site in Breightmet and a major new distribution centre close to completion at the Logistics North site at Cutacre.

Local councillors who sit on the planning committee were united in welcoming the plans.

Cllr Kevan Jones said: “This site has been an eyesore for a long time and this will be a good use for the plot of land.”

Cllr Anna-Marie Watters said: “I do think that having an added supermarket like Aldi is ideal for the residents of Westhoughton.

She added: “I do have some concerns about the parking and it is so important that the new public car park opens before the current one closes — parking is a real issue in Westhoughton.”

Planning officers confirmed that it is a condition of the permission that the new car park is completed and open before the current one shuts.

All members of the planning committee voted to approve the scheme.