Plans for a much-anticipated new supermarket in Aberystwyth still remain up in the air - more than two years after Ceredigion council gave the plans the go-ahead.

Council planners gave the green light to plans by Aldi to build a new supermarket on the derelict site of the former Kwik Save and Cambrian Garage along Park Avenue in June 2019.

More then two years later, a decision has yet to be reached after a series of delays following a call-in to Welsh inspectors over flooding fears.

The Welsh Government was due to hold a public inquiry in March 2020, but those plans were cancelled amid the coronavirus pandemic restrictions.

A planned date in November was then cancelled due to an administrative error, and the hearing was finally due to begin in early December, but was adjourned again until 5 January, when a part hearing took place.

In February, the Planning Inspectorate for Wales said the Inspector “is still awaiting further written submissions from the parties before the hearing can be formally closed”, then in March told the Cambrian News that a recommendation on the plan had finally been made to Welsh ministers, but could not say what the recommendation was nor give a timescale for when a final decision will be made.

Five months after the recommendation was made, the plans are still in limbo with no final Minister decision having been made.

The planning application was called in by the Welsh Government over potential flooding concerns, but planning reports indicate that even if the plans are refused, Aldi will go ahead with its scheme by using permission granted four years ago.

Permission was granted in 2011 for the demolition of the old Kwik Save building and garage on the site, along with the erection of an Aldi store and hotel.

Those plans were slightly amended in February 2016 and approved.

Ultimately Aldi decided not to move ahead with putting a hotel on site and applied for just a new store, but if the Welsh Government Planning Inspectorate decides to halt its latest plans, the company will “fall-back” on the original permission.

The Planning Inspectorate called in the application after “reviewing the Flood Consequence Assessment prepared on behalf of the applicant”.

Natural Resources Wales objected to the proposal over the flood fears and recommended it be refused.

The store, if it is approved, is expected to create 40 jobs and see a long-standing empty town centre site brought back into use.

Aldi, which has owned the land for around 10 years, said it “received considerable local support for its proposed redevelopment of the Park Avenue site” during a consultation exercise, while dozens of letter of support for the development were received.