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An Aldi store could be coming to Faversham as part of the Perry Court development.
Plans have been unveiled showing drawings of a 1,715 sqm supermarket and car park in Ashford Road, with space for 136 cars.
Developers Henry Davidson (HDD) had originally planned to build a small 200 sqm convenience shop at the site.
The development between the A2 and M2 will also contain a three-storey, 84-bed Premier Inn hotel and a 66-bed care home.
A spokesman for the German discount retailer said: “Aldi would like to open a store in Faversham, as part of the Perry Court development.
“The opening of a store in Faversham would also create up to 50 new jobs.
“It is too early to provide a store opening date, but should planning be granted, we would hope to progress the store build as soon as possible.”
The plans have been met with fury from Faversham residents who still believe not enough has been done to address the increased pressure which Perry Court, which will also include 310 new homes, will create on the already heavily congested A2 and A251 road networks.
A further 250 homes at Preston Fields in Salters Lane were also given the green light in March.
Concerns have been raised about the extra traffic, air pollution and noise disturbance which could be created by deliveries and customers, including late at night.
Ashford Road resident Martin Chamberlain said: “There’s still no mention whatsoever about money for an upgrade of the A251 Mall junction.
“It just beggars belief.
“If you live north of the A2, you are going to be severely restricted in terms of getting in and out of Faversham.
“In town is a Sainsbury’s, a Tesco, a Morrisons and a small Co-op.
“We don’t need another supermarket. A hotel and a supermarket rely on vehicle movements.
“They rely on someone supplying them, someone going around there and getting rid of the waste, and customers going there.
“If I had a supermarket with 130 vehicle spaces in it, I would want to see those full for some significant time each day.
“On it’s own, that’s going to create additional traffic.
“Yet again on Friday, there was an issue with the M2 between Junctions 6 and 7.
“The A251, for three hours, was like a car park, because it becomes a relief road for the motorway.
“And there’s already a problem with air quality in our area of Faversham and Ospringe.
“Anything that’s going to increase vehicles or traffic is going to make it worse.”
Watling Ward Cllr David Simmons shares residents’ concerns, saying: “We need to look very carefully at the roads and make sure that the infrastructure is capable of dealing with all this additional traffic.
“I do have concerns with regards to infrastructure and air quality.”
