ALDI has appealed to the government for approval to build a supermarket at the Bath Road Trading Estate, after Stroud District Council refused to grant permission.

After SDC initially rejected Aldi’s plans last year, the German giant applied again with a fresh proposal and expected a decision in April this year, but the council delayed its verdict due to news of a potential £10million investment in Merrywalks shopping centre.

Aldi’s application was then expected to be determined at this month’s planning committee meeting, on July 18, but a council IT error meant that the public couldn’t comment on the proposal online beforehand – so the decision was delayed again, until the next meeting in September.

Aldi has now gone above the council to the Secretary of State, meaning a government planning inspector will make the final decision at an appeal hearing.

This decision will relate to Aldi’s initial application last year, which was rejected by SDC.

An ALDI spokeswoman said: "We are committed to opening a store in Stroud and keen to progress as soon as possible, so local people have more shopping choice closer to home and to assist in the continual improvements at Bath Road Trading Estate.

"Due to delays and uncertainty with reaching a decision at a Stroud District Council planning committee level, we chose to submit an appeal and ask the Secretary of State to consider the application.

"We are continuing to work with officers to ensure the revised planning application returns to planning committee as soon as possible, and hope local councillors will vote to approve the application in September."

A spokesman for SDC said the council still expected to make a decision on Aldi’s application in September.

"This appeal relates to the first Aldi application which was refused permission in 2016," the spokesman said.

"After that application was refused, Aldi submitted another application, which was slightly different to the original one and is due to be considered by our committee in September.

"It is common for developers to have a live application and an appeal running at the same time."

Plans for an Aldi have been largely supported by Stroud residents, who believe a budget supermarket is needed.