Councillors have put off making a decision over whether they will allow a new Aldi store to be built in Wirral.

A ruling on the discount food retailer's application has been deferred until members of the planning committee have visited the site.

Wirral Globe:

Artist's impression of the proposed new store at Bromborough

Planning officers were recommending the scheme - for land off Port Causeway in Bromborough - should be approved when it came before the committee on Wednesday evening.

The application will be considered again in a month's time.

A consultation programme was carried out in February with an exhibition held at the Village Hotel in Bromborough.

Around 70 people attended and some 240 feedback forms were returned with 83% supporting the proposal.

Those taking part generally felt the new store would be beneficial to the area.

More than 80 individual letters of support have been received by the council in favour of the application with just one letter of objection.

A report to last night's meeting said although the site is designated as being primarily for industrial use, the applicants have shown there are no suitable alternatives for their new store available in the area.

And the development would generate employment opportunities with a total of around 50 jobs created.

The report concluded: "On balance, taking the context of the site in relation to neighbouring uses into account alongside the requirements of local and national policy for employment and retail development, the benefits from the development - such as bringing the site back into use and the prospects of local job creation - can be weighed in favour of the application."

Speaking to the Globe in February as the public consultation got underway, an Aldi spokesman said: “Aldi has carefully developed its proposal to ensure the store sits comfortably within the site and contributes positively to the appearance of the surrounding area.

“The layout would also feature new landscaping throughout the scheme.”

The chain has developed several “good neighbour” practices in the UK and says it “works closely with local community to ensure any disturbance is kept to a minimum from construction through to when the store is open."

The representative said existing Aldi stores at Bebington Road and Woodchurch Road are performing well and would remain open should the Port Causeway plan be approved.

The planning committee will reconvene on July 21.