Well-heeled residents of affluent suburb protest over plan for new Aldi as councillor tells them: 'If it was Waitrose or Fortnum & Mason you wouldn't complain'

Published: 09:19 EDT, 9 October 2026 | Updated: 09:22 EDT, 9 October 2026 Well-to-do residents of an affluent suburb are protesting after plans for an Aldi to be built in the area were approved.The budget supermarket chain is set to come to Wern Fawr in Old St Mellons, Cardiff, but locals say it is not in keeping with the 'upmarket' location.Planning documents say it will take over a vacant car park serving an office complex and plans to add trees and vegetation as well as sewage systems. One objecting local told WalesOnline: 'Old St Mellons is an affluent suburb of Cardiff and should continue this way. We should not be viewed as a development opportunity on a map, especially for an Aldi store. 'It is an established community with its own character, identity, and residential environment. Repeated incremental development risks fundamentally changing that character.'Another said: 'The creation of Aldi is of no real benefit in what is quite an upmarket area. The increased traffic this is going to generate will certainly make this unsafe to navigate and impact the ability of school children being able to walk home through this area.'But Councillor Michael Michael of the nearby ward Trowbridge, said the proposed supermarket would be a great addition to the community.He joked: 'If there was a Waitrose or possibly a Fortnum & Mason we probably wouldn't get a complaint from the community council.' Well-to-do residents of an affluent suburb are protesting after plans for an Aldi to be built in the area were approved (pictured: proposed plans) The budget supermarket chain is set to come to Wern Fawr in Old St Mellons, Cardiff, but locals say it is not in keeping with the 'upmarket' locationOther locals have raised concerns about overnight delivery, noise pollution, traffic, and the potential for antisocial behaviour.The community council added: 'such an application will change the nature of the area which is a quiet residential district.'The local Tesco which is the only supermarket serving the area, also objected to the plans, which it stated many find 'inadequate'.But the council agreed that the Aldi will provide more affordable food options to the area and provide more local jobs.