A decision on planning permission for a new Aldi supermarket in Kings Hill has been deferred after councillors expressed concern with traffic congestion.

The cost-cutting supermarket chain wants to build a store in Alexander Grove, on land that had been previously earmarked for housing.

Kings Hill already has two major supermarkets, Waitrose and Asda, and residents will now have to wait a bit longer to add the German discount chain to its ranks.

While the idea of another supermarket had been backed by some residents, Asda had objected to the plans claiming that HGVs would struggle to navigate roads around the shop.

As well as the supermarket, 120 parking spaces would be built, 20 of which would be future-proofed for electric car charging. Only four would be ready for opening day.

Aldi has estimated the new store would create at least 50 jobs.

At a Tonbridge and Malling council planning committee on Wednesday, councillors were eager to see another competitor move into Kings Hill, but were concerned about traffic in the area.

Cllr Chris Brown expressed doubt over how many people Aldi predicted would commute to the shop, which would see 110 cars arriving on a peak Saturday: “It will attract residents from beyond Kings Hill and I think those numbers are on the low side.

“The parking is also on the low side as well, our policy would recommend 138 spaces, they’re wanting 120.

"Parking at Kings Hill is a premium and I am a little concerned we are 18 spaces short, at peak times where are visitors going to park?

He also expressed disappointment that Aldi hadn’t made the building more environmentally friendly: “I don’t see why we shouldn’t just have charging points when the store opens.

"More and more people are moving to electric vehicles, even my employer has publicly accessible charging points."

He said: “Why they’re not working with the applicant to get solar panels, I don’t know. In fact across the whole development, the roofs could facilitate solar panels.”

Meanwhile Cllr Kim Tanner was also worried about a rise in traffic. She said: "While I accept the financial benefits an Aldi store would bring, my concerns are about traffic.

“The planning report refers a lot to traffic in Kings Hill, it doesn’t seem to accept there will be additional traffic coming from the A228.

“While I don’t want to question officers, when Asda was built in Kings Hill everyone came to shop there, people coming from Tunbridge Wells, Snodland, just about everywhere.

“Aldi is an attractive supermarket at the moment, I do believe we will see a significant increase in the number of vehicles coming into Kings Hill.”

While Cllr Tanner said she liked to shop in Aldi, she also had sympathy with Asda’s objection, saying “I’m afraid I can't accept that an Aldi won’t affect Asda, but I believe Asda will be decimated by this and it should be taken into consideration.”

Cllr Robin Betts too vented his frustration over the environmental impact of the building.

He said: "I see this as a completely missed opportunity for Aldi really. “They’ve designed a building with a sloped roof facing north, and yet they’re designing it in a way where the sun can’t supply energy to it, which I think is ridiculous in this day and age.

He also added his name to councillors questioning how many people will use the store.

He said: “If I’m an Aldi customer and I live in Wrotham, then my nearest store currently is Sevenoaks or Aylesford.

Mr Betts continued: “Now I’m eight miles from Sevenoaks, but I’m four miles from King’s Hill, I’m going to go to King’s Hill."

Officers had recommended the scheme be approved.

In a final vote and having sought legal advice, councillors voted eight to four to defer the decision to give Aldi more time to consider the traffic impact in Kings Hill.