Bosses of budget supermarket giant Aldi have confirmed they still have their sights set on building a new store in Whitchurch, despite being refused planning permission.

Many felt the long-running planning saga had come to an end last Tuesday when councillors on the North Shropshire Planning Committee rejected the proposal for Wrexham Road, based on recommendations from planning officers concerning impact on the town.

But Aldi has told The Herald the supermarket will continue to work with Shropshire Council over a future appeal in order to gain planning permission.

A spokesperson said: “We’re committed to the site in Wrexham Road and have received significant public support for our plans to bring a modern new foodstore to Whitchurch soon.

“We continue to liaise with Shropshire Council to find a solution and will submit an appeal in due course. We will keep the community updated on developments.”

Shropshire Council faces a potential issue if Aldi launches an appeal as Anthony Crean QC - who has previously represented the unitary authority and won cases for them - represented the supermarket at last week’s planning meeting.

He said then that if the appeal was to go ahead he would be representing Aldi against the council.

The controversial application has received public support from residents but some have also criticised it, while Whitchurch Town Council submitted comments stating that while it would welcome Aldi to the town, it could not support an application at that location.

Similarly, the town’s Chamber of Trade believes it would have a negative impact on businesses in the town, with many fearing the location close to the canal could stop boat owners from using shops in the High Street and beyond.

Shropshire Council’s principal planning officer, Karen Townend, stated in her report to councillors that a new store in Aldi would have ‘an adverse impact on the vitality and viability of the town centre’, though admitted it would not be significant.

She continued: “Furthermore, the application site lies in a historic and rural landscape context and the proposed development is considered to have an adverse impact on the significance of the setting of the non-designated heritage asset and an adverse impact on the immediate landscape.”

There has also been a dispute between Aldi and fellow budget supermarket chain Lidl, based in Bridgewater Street, over the impact of a new store on the latter, who claimed they may be forced to close if permission was given.