Aldi is lobbying Sir Keir Starmer to accelerate planning permission processes for new supermarkets as the retailer faces prolonged approval times from local councils.

George Brown, Aldi’s national real estate director, recently met with a senior special adviser to the Prime Minister, pushing for reforms that align with the Government’s agenda to drive economic growth and “get Britain building again.”

Brown expressed concerns on LinkedIn, highlighting that securing planning consent for new Aldi stores often takes over 12 months due to under-resourced local authorities. He proposed that Aldi would be willing to invest in the application process to expedite approvals, emphasising the need for more streamlined and efficient decision-making for retail developments.

Brown also noted a preference among planning authorities for warehouse and industrial estate approvals, which he argues generate fewer local jobs compared to supermarket openings. “To unlock significant investment in the UK economy, this needs to change,” he said.

Aldi has set a target to reach 1,200 UK stores by 2025 but is currently behind schedule with just over 1,020 locations. The retailer has also announced a broader goal of 1,500 stores, though no specific timeline has been provided. Aldi attributes the delays to planning red tape, building material shortages, and objections from competitors, factors which have slowed its expansion and impacted sales growth.