Plans for a new supermarket in Aberystwyth are set to be delayed, after the Welsh Government called in the scheme over flooding fears.

The plan by budget supermarket Aldi to build a new store on the old Cambrian Garage and Kwik Save site on Park Avenue - a parcel of land the company has owned for nearly a decade – was granted by Ceredigion County Council’s planning committee earlier this year.

The plan was approved despite objections from rival Lidl, which had previously attempted to obtain permission to build a store on the site.

Lidl said it would seek a judicial review into the plans if they were given the go ahead.

Now, Ceredigion council has confirmed that the plans have been referred to the Welsh Government following Lidl’s objections.

“The position is at the moment the Welsh Government has called in the application at the request of an objector [Lidl],” a Ceredigion council spokesperson told the Cambrian News.

“The minister for housing and local government directed the authority to refer the application for determination by the Welsh ministers as the application may conflict with national policy in respect of flooding.

“The authority has presented the Planning Inspectorate with information but has yet to receive confirmation as to how and when the matter will be dealt with.”

Recruitment activities for the 40 jobs set to be created at the store gave an initial opening date of November, but work at the site is yet to start.

See this week’s south papers for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition tomorrow