COMMUNITY leaders in Drumchapel say they are “absolutely delighted” that Aldi has been granted planning permission to open a store in their area for the second time.

The budget supermarket’s plan to open a 17,000sq ft store at Duntreath Avenue was given the green light by Glasgow City Council’s planning committee on Tuesday, August 18.

Nine councillors backed the proposal for a second time after a previous planning permission was appealed by Cooperative Estates, owners of Drumchapel Shopping Centre.

Glasgow City Council chose not to contest that appeal, which saw Aldi bosses appear before the planning committee again last week.

Company chiefs now say they hope to start work to demolish packaging company Commands’ warehouse, before building a modern shop in its place.

Once completed the store will provide 30 to 40 jobs for locals.

Andy Doyle, property director for Aldi, said: “We are delighted with the decision and will now be working hard to bring the Aldi brand to Drumchapel in 2016.” Elsie Job, of Drumchapel Community Council, said: “Everyone on the community council is absolutely delighted about this news, the people of Drumchapel will certainly welcome Aldi into the area.

“Aldi has given us a guarantee that Drumchapel people will come first for the jobs when they start recruitment. It’s wonderful that Drumchapel will have access to affordable fresh fruit and vegetables as well as household items.” Drumchapel councillor Paul Carey had written a supporting letter, along with nine others, to the planning committee.

“I, along with the community council, have been fighting for a supermarket that provides quality food at affordable prices,” he said. “This has almost been a 10-year campaign to attract a supermarket to Drumchapel. “I sincerely hope that there will be no further challenges to this decision and that Aldi can start to build the new store.” Aldi had been granted planning permission to build a Drumchapel store in December 2015, but the development was stalled when Cooperative Estates challenged the legality of that decision.

The landlord of Drumchapel shopping centre has been working with rival budget retailer Lidl to open a store within the shopping outlet.

A spokesman for Cooperative Estates told the Post: “We are very disappointed that the committee has chosen not to accept the planning authority’s recommendation to refuse the application given the negative impacts it will have on the existing Drumchapel Shopping Centre.

“It also overrides the council’s own policies within the city’s agreed development plan. We will review the council’s justification when it is published before deciding what action to take.”