A Helston resident has called upon the council to play a vital part in the development of the old Budgens supermarket building - and suggests an Aldi store could be the perfect use. 

Since its closure in 2017, the former Budgens, Co-op, and Somerfield store in the Trengrouse Way car park has been left empty and has been falling into increasing disrepair. According to some reports on social media, the building is now being used as a place for homeless people to sleep. 

Now entering its seventh year of being unused, a Helston resident has shared their thoughts on the building becoming an Aldi supermarket. 

In a letter sent to Helston Town Council, the writer explains why he thinks an Aldi store would benefit the people living and working in the town. 

The resident explains in the letter that since moving to the area a year ago, they had noticed improvements made in the town centre, but described the derelict building at Trengrouse Way as a “major issue” for visitors coming into the town.

The letter also mentions the recent application for planning permission by supermarket chain Aldi, which was said to have been “blocked” by Cornwall Council which the resident claimed was “shortsighted.”

In 2021, the Packet reported that plans were in place for an Aldi supermarket, along with a Range store with a garden centre and a McDonald’s to be developed on land at Hospital Cross, as well as the former Budgens building but two years later, in 2023, the planning application was refused due to a ‘significant adverse landscape impact’.

The letter writer points out that if Aldi did show an interest in the building, the upper levels of the car park - which is still used daily - would need to be sold or given to Aldi, so they can continue to provide customers with free parking; something the letter admits would be "consuming and complicated" and a cost to Cornwall Council. 

The letter also details what benefits an Aldi would bring to the town. It reads: "The benefit is that Helston gains a destination shop, right on the back of the high street. 

"People will travel to Aldi (there are studies on this.) 

"Once they have concluded their shopping there, they can and will go into the high street to Boots and Superdrug to collect 27 items they cannot get in Aldi, collect prescriptions etc. 

"Whilst they are there, they will also frequent other shops." 

With hopes of the derelict building being in use once again, the writer of the letter has suggested that members of Helston Town Council could play a vital part in an Aldi store coming to the town. They said: “If this was an Aldi, it would be a destination for the local area and the people of Helston.

“However, there has to be some changes to make this happen.

“This is where I believe the town council could play a vital part. Initially, Aldi would need to be approached to take the building and turn it back into a supermarket. They are keen to have a facility in Helston, so getting them interested could be relatively straightforward.”

The resident's letter will be discussed this week at Helston Town Council’s full meeting on Thursday (January 18). Members of the public are welcome to attend the meeting, which will take place from 7pm in the Guildhall.

A spokesperson for Aldi said the supermarket was unable to comment on speculation.