Business, Eco & Environment, Wimborne | Posted on August 21st, 2025 | return to news

Future of Aldi store in Canford Bottom to be decided

A Planning Committee will decide whether or not to give the go-ahead to plans for a new Aldi near Ferndown and Wimborne on 3 September.

Last September, discount retailer Aldi submitted a planning application to build a new store next to Canford Bottom roundabout in Colehill.

A year later, the plan will be considered by the council’s Eastern Dorset Planning Committee at a meeting at 10am on 3 September 2025. The meeting will be held at the Allendale Centre, Hanham Road, Wimborne, BH21 1AS.

Aldi’s proposal last year proved controversial. It plans to demolish several existing buildings and build a new store and car park next to the busy Canford Bottom Roundabout, which connects Wimborne Minster to Ferndown and the A31.

Locals were concerned a new store at that location would attract more traffic to an already congested area.

Aldi’s designs were also criticised, with many residents, as well as National Highways, warning that the proposed entrance was on a blind bend which runs the risk of causing collisions and injury.

The proposal sparked the formation of a protest group: ALDI Location Declared Inappropriate @ Canford Bottom. A spokesperson for the group previously said: “There is an acknowledgement that an Aldi store would be welcome in the East Dorset area, however, the choice of a small area of industrial and green belt next to the Canford Bottom roundabout is, for a variety of reasons not a good location.”

The Planning Committee meeting is open to the public. Residents will have the opportunity to speak at the meeting, but they must notify the committee in advance by emailing democraticservices@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk or contacting Joshua Kennedy on 01305 224710 or emailing joshua.kennedy@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk. You must register to speak before 8.30am at least two clear workings days before the meeting.

The agenda will be displayed here in the week before the meeting.