Budget supermarket chain Aldi has been given the green light to build another Kent store despite concerns it will “make life miserable” for locals.

The German retailer has won permission for the development off the A28 in Kennington, Ashford, and says it will bring up to 50 new jobs.

It argued it needed a second store in the town as its existing supermarket in Victoria Road is “busy and congested”.

The firm proposed the plans for the 1.85-acre plot next to Canterbury Road in 2021 and submitted full, detailed proposals in August 2022 following two public consultations.

At a meeting of Ashford Borough Council’s (ABC) planning committee this week, councillors met to hash out the details.

Planning chiefs were recommending that councillors back the plans, with one telling the meeting that “the site is currently overgrown and fairly untidy”.

It was formerly host to Houchin’s Sports and Social Club, and in 2019 was earmarked for a Miller & Carter Steakhouse, which never came to fruition.

The officer also praised the “economic benefits” the new supermarket would bring.

Robert McLellan, Aldi’s property director, attended the meeting to speak in support of the plans, saying the firm was “delighted” officers recommended it for approval.

Referring to its existing town centre store, he added: “We’re very proud of this store and its positive impact on Ashford and this community, but anyone familiar with the store knows that it is frequently busy and congested.

“As the only Aldi in Ashford this means it is attracting customers from all across the town, which is exacerbating this problem.

“Many customers are already travelling from Kennington, which is one of the few parts of Ashford which doesn’t have direct access to a discount store like Aldi.”

Mr McLellan also noted the “extensive support expressed by local people”, as prior to the meeting, 23 letters of support were sent to the council, and 14 in objection.

He continued: “The store will create up to 50 new jobs which we will seek to recruit from the local area.

“In fact, many people contact us daily inquiring about when these jobs in Kennington will become available.

“If approved we will look to commence recruitment imminently and are intending on opening the store at the earliest opportunity.”

However, Cllr Charles Ellish, of Kennington Community Council, attended to slate the proposals, arguing “it would negatively impact the already congested A28”.

He claimed the road changes would cause traffic problems that would “permanently afflict Canterbury Road, making life miserable for Kennington residents”.

Those opposed to the development previously raised concerns over the impact it could have on the A28 and nearby Simone Weil Avenue.

Aldi bosses say a number of highway improvements will be introduced, including traffic lights at a new access point close to the M20 bridge.

Traffic lights will also be introduced at the junction with Cemetery Lane, which leads to Longacres Bybrook Barn, creating a staggered crossroads.

The Ashford-bound bus lane that currently runs to just short of the M20 bridge will also be reduced to stop at Kinney’s Lane, which Cllr Ellis said would “leave buses as stationary as other motorists”.

However, Kent County Council Highways raised no issues with the scheme.

Cllr Bernard Heyes (Con) described the decision as a “difficult one”.

“Kennington really requires a store of this nature,” he argued, but added “it could possibly make traffic tailbacks worse in peak hours particularly”.

However, he thought the supermarket giant’s road changes would mitigate this and backed the plans.

Cllr Diccon Spain (Lab) argued: “If there’s more people walking to this store rather than perhaps getting into their cars and going to a town centre Aldi, for example, then this might actually have some positive impact on reducing congestion.”

Cllr Geoff Meaden (Green) added that he expects car usage to fall over time, so believed “the increase in traffic won’t be as much as some of you are worrying about”.

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Councillors decided to add in a condition that Aldi look into installing a signalised crossing for pedestrians at the foot of Bybrook Road.

The committee voted unanimously, with 11 votes in favour to back the plans.

Aldi opened its first store in Ashford in Victoria Road in 2018.

It then submitted plans for a second store in Waterbrook Avenue, just off the A2070, which have been approved.

However, a condition imposed by ABC means contractors cannot start work until progress is made on a separate convenience store on the nearby Finberry housing estate.

Aldi has since launched a petition against the move as it fears Finberry residents “will continue to have no local foodstore for several years.”

Residents in Finberry were sent letters about the petition, which is also being advertised in Aldi’s Victoria Road store.