Council pulls support for new supermarket

A planning inspector will make the decision over the new supermarket in August

A council has reversed its previous approval for a supermarket over worries about flooding.

Wokingham Borough Council gave the proposed Aldi in Gazelle Close, Winnersh, Berkshire, the go-ahead last December.

But the Environment Agency said new information showed the peak flow of the River Loddon, which runs nearby, could increase by 23% because of climate change.

A government-appointed planning inspector will make the final decision as to whether the supermarket gets permission in August.

The proposed site sits on a floodplain so the final decision was called in by the government and will be decided following an inquiry.

The Environment Agency objected to the plan when it was first approved by councillors because it said the site would be at risk of flooding from the Loddon.

Previously, Wokingham Borough Council planning officers said proposed drainage was acceptable.

But they reassessed their view when the agency provided its new information.