A DELAYED public inquiry into plans to build a new supermarket in Aberystwyth will now be held as a virtual hearing, the planning inspectorate has told the Cambrian News, due to fears that a hearing would not otherwise be held before the new year.

The Welsh Government was due to hold a public inquiry in March to look into plans by Aldi to build a new supermarket on the derelict site of the former Kwik Save and Cambrian Garage along Park Avenue.

Ceredigion County Council planners had approved the plans for the new supermarket at the site in June 2019, despite an objection from rival supermarket chain Lidl.

But the planning application was then called in by the Welsh Government over potential flooding concerns.

Since then, the Welsh Government had asked for representations, with a spokesperson confirming that a full public inquiry will be held.

This was scheduled to take place on 25 March but lockdown meant it had to be postponed, with the inspector deciding that the application would proceed as a combination of written representations and a single hearing session to ensure it was heard.

However, the planning inspectorate told the Cambrian News this week that Ceredigion council “raised concerns” that “council buildings would not be available for September or October and possibly not until the new year due to Covid-19”.

“To avoid the event possibly being delayed until the new year, the inspector determined that the hearing event should be conducted virtually, and this was confirmed with the main parties on 19 August,” a spokesperson said.

“At present, a date is still yet to be arranged for the hearing, but as soon as this has been arranged, we will confirm this with the main parties.”

The store, if it is approved, is expected to create 40 jobs and see a long-standing empty site used. Aldi has owned the land for around 10 years.

Following the initial planning permission, Lidl had said it would consider going to judicial review to fight the Aldi application if it went ahead.