Aldi Cleared to Open at Kew Retail Park
Change of use approved for Sports Direct unit
Sport Direct in Kew Retail Park. Picture: Kew Society
January 28, 2026
Richmond Council has approved a change of use application that will allow a new Aldi supermarket to open at Kew Retail Park, paving the way for the discount chain to take over the unit currently occupied by Sports Direct.
The decision, made at the Planning Committee meeting on 21 January, permits Unit 1A to shift from a comparison goods store to a food retail unit. Although such a change would not normally require planning permission, the original consent for the retail park specifically prohibited food retailers.
The proposal involves no external alterations or building works. The change relates solely to how the unit will be used, with the overall footprint of the retail park remaining the same. Once Sports Direct vacates the space, the 1,100 sq.m. unit will be available for refitting although no date has been given for when this might happen.
While many residents welcome the prospect of a new discount supermarket—particularly at a time when household budgets remain under pressure—others have expressed worries about the broader impact.
Traffic on Mortlake Road, already a heavily used route through the neighbourhood, remains a long-standing concern. Residents have also highlighted the risk of increased rat-running through side streets near Kew Green, an issue that predates the current application but continues to shape local sentiment.
There are also mixed views about the effect on independent shops in Kew Village and Station Parade, with some fearing that a major discounter could draw trade away from smaller businesses and subtly shift the character of the area.
The move comes as Aldi accelerates its national expansion. The supermarket—now the UK’s fourth-largest—plans to invest £370 million this year alone, targeting around 40 new store openings across Britain including sites in Chiswick and South Ealing although it is understood that no specific locations have been identified for these two possible openings. Sites in Southam, Hastings, and Amersham are already confirmed, forming part of a wider £1.6 billion two-year investment programme.
Aldi opened a string of new stores in 2025, including branches in Kirkintilloch, Eastbourne, Fulham Broadway, and Deeside, and continues to pursue its long-term ambition of operating 1,500 UK stores.
Chief Executive Giles Hurley recently reiterated the company’s mission to make affordable food accessible to all, claiming that families in more than 200 towns without an Aldi are paying significantly more for groceries each year.
The approval for Aldi comes at a time when the future of the entire Kew Retail Park remains under active discussion. British Land, the site’s owner, has been progressing early-stage proposals for a major redevelopment that could eventually transform the retail park into a mixed-use neighbourhood with new homes, green spaces, and reconfigured retail.
While no formal planning application for the full redevelopment has yet been submitted, the developer has held several rounds of public engagement. Emerging concepts include:
- A significant number of new flats, including affordable housing
- A redesigned layout with new pedestrian and cycle routes
- Consolidated retail provision, potentially in a smaller footprint
- Improved public realm and landscaping
- Better integration with the surrounding residential streets
The arrival of Aldi in the retail park does not pre-empt or replace the wider redevelopment plans. Instead, it provides a short- to medium-term solution that keeps the site active while long-term proposals continue to evolve.
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