PLANS for a supermarket on a greenfield site in a Hampshire town have received a potential boost.
Aldi, which has drawn up proposals to build a 1,890sqm store at Little Testwood Farm in Salisbury Road, Totton, has been told it will not have to submit an environmental impact assessment.
New Forest District Council's ruling means the scheme is more likely to be approved.
Citing the size and location of the proposed development, a council report says the supermarket would not make a "significant cumulative contribution to the overall scale of development in the area".
It adds that the scheme, which includes an employment unit, would be "compatible" with that part of Totton.
"The site is predominately greenfield used for grazing purposes. It is not high-value agricultural land making an important contribution to the provision of crops or livestock."
The report says the site is too far from protected habitats for the proposed new store to have an adverse effect on wildlife.
It adds: "Due to its location there would not be a direct impact on the appearance of the New Forest National Park; nor would the scheme be readily visible in longer distance views alongside the protected landscape."
The effect of traffic fumes on local air quality could be curbed by "appropriate" development management controls.
"The impacts of the development can be limited to the potential risk arising during construction, which can be adequately managed by the provision of construction and ecological management plans.
"As such, adverse effects, detrimental to the integrity of nearby features of environmental sensitivity, would not arise."
The proposed site is next to the home of AFC Totton.
As reported in the Daily Echo, Totton Town Council is recommending the district council to approve Aldi's application, despite raising concerns about the prospect of a supermarket next door to a football ground.
Citing the "inevitable" increase in traffic it calls for the speed limit at the eastern end of Salisbury Road to be reduced from 40mph to 30mph.
However, the council describes the scheme as positive, saying the proposed new store will provide shoppers with more choice as well as creating jobs.
The application has also sparked several letters from locals who support the application.
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