"“The development will be in keeping with the surrounding area and both the retail and the residential elements of the scheme will offer new opportunities for the local community.
“The new Aldi store will help to diversify the food retail experience in St Annes and help create new jobs for the area, while the apartments will offer first time buyers and keyworkers the chance to own their own home"
Russell Worthington
The three storey scheme will comprise a 14,155 sq ft Aldi foodstore and 70 parking spaces for shoppers, plus 34 contemporary one and two bedroom apartments, with sheltered basement car parking for ten residents.
The development is situated on the site of a derelict five story building that was the former home of St Annes Conservative Club. The club recently relocated to new premises nearby.
Work is now underway with the scheme set to be completed by November 2013.
The 34 apartments will be spread across three floors and are being developed by a sister company of Worthington Properties, Hollinwood Homes, which is the residential property division of The Marcus Worthington Group.
This will be the third Worthington Properties development to feature an Aldi store, following others in Huddersfield in West Yorkshire and in Sale, Greater Manchester.
Mike Clarke, Aldi property director, said: “We are delighted to be working with Worthington Properties again and are very much looking forward to the store opening next year.”
Councillor David Eaves, Fylde Council leader, said: “This Aldi development represents a boost to a very prominent part of town.
“It is situated on one of the main approaches to the town centre. The two buildings currently on the site have been empty for some years and give a bad first impression to visitors which will now be improved by the addition of this carefully designed replacement building.
“It will also be good for residents as they do their food shopping. Competition in the food sector is always good for consumers who are invariably winners when retailers compete for their money.”