A SUPERMARKET war has broken out in Glasgow.

 

The Co-operative is challenging a decision to allow Aldi to build a store in Drumchapel, which was due to create up to 40 jobs.

Discount supermarket Aldi was given the green light by the city council last year to construct a 17,000 sq ft shop in Duntreath Avenue.

But Co-operative Estates, which owns Drumchapel Shopping Centre, says it is in "active" negotiations with another chain, Lidl, to open a branch within the shopping hub.

The group claim there is no room for two food retailers operating near each other.

Now Co-op are taking legal action against Glasgow City Council over the planning committee decision taken in December.

Work on converting the industrial site into Aldi was due to start earlier this year and it was hoped the store could open by Easter.

Community members now fear local residents will miss out as building work is postponed until further notice.

A hearing is due to take place at the Court of Session in Edinburgh on June 3.

A spokesman from Aldi told the Evening Times that the supermarket remains "100% committed" to bringing a new store to the the area.

Committee members voted to allow Aldi's application despite council planners recommending that full planning permission be denied because the site was not in the town centre.

A spokesman for The Co-operative Estates said: "There is currently just one vacant unit at the centre and we are in active negotiations with discount food retailer Lidl to develop a new 22,000 sq ft unit fronting Kinfauns Drive which conforms fully with planning policy and will provide a positive boost to the retail offer at the shopping centre and the local community.

"However, Glasgow City Council's decision to ignore the recommendation of their own Planning Officer and approve planning permission to convert the former industrial building at Duntreath Avenue into a food store hampers our task.

"We do not believe there is the capacity for two food retailers to operate in such close proximity within Drumchapel and believe that there are solid grounds to judicially review the council's decision.

"We have consequently initiated this process to protect our ability to revitalise the centre rather than see retail focus eroded by planning decisions and processes we believe are not policy compliant."

Councillor Paul Carey, who campaigned to attract a supermarket to Drumchapel along with Councillor Malcolm Balfour, said he was "deeply disappointed".

He said: "This means that nothing will now happen on site until a decision has been made by the Court.

"I share the community's frustration as this means there will be a delay in opening a supermarket in the Drumchapel area."

A Glasgow City Council spokesman said it would be "inappropriate to comment" because the application is subject to a legal challenge.

A spokesman from Aldi said: "We will update the community further in due course."