Work set to begin on Aldi’s Harrogate store

This comes over a year since budget supermarket chain Aldi was granted planning permission by Harrogate Borough Council for the former Dreams store at Harrogate Retail Park, off Skipton Road.

An Aldi spokesperson said: “Site investigation works have commenced. The building contract was signed by the contractor yesterday, works start in July and the unit is due to be handed over to Aldi in January 2016 for their fit out.”

Impatient residents have been calling on the German supermarket chain to hurry up and open in the town for the past few months, with many people wondering if Aldi had scrapped plans.

Terri Powers said: “I guess by the look of things there isn’t going to be an Aldi in Harrogate after all as there has been no work being done at the suggested site.”

The budget supermarket chain has gone from strength to strength in recent years.

In their application to Harrogate Borough Council, developer Savills said: “The discount sector of the grocery market has developed significantly over the last ten years, with particular growth in popularity recently as the UK has experienced an economic downturn,“ and added the store will create around 18 jobs.