COUNCILLORS have backed a bid for Aldi to open a store in Maldon.

Waitrose had been due to open a store in the town when the former Brooks Brothers site in the Causeway is redeveloped.

In January, developer Aquila was joined by a Waitrose representative at a Maldon District Council meeting, where councillors approved the bid to create a 2.76-hectare shopping centre, including a supermarket and five stores, including Next, and a hotel.

But last month, the firm applied to alter its planning permission, stating Waitrose had withdrawn from the scheme while Aldi had signed up to open a “slightly smaller” supermarket.

Now Maldon Town Council has agreed to support the application and has recommended that Maldon District Council approve the application to remove a number of conditions on the planning permission.