DISCOUNT supermarket Aldi’s plans to take over a former office supplies store in Poole could be scuppered as the proposals might not conform with local planning rules.

The retailer submitted a scheme in May to convert the Office Outlet unit at Fleets Corner, which is adjacent to Wren Kitchens.

However, concerns have been raised that opening a food store on the site would conflict with a pre-existing planning condition, which excludes the use of the premises for selling food, drink, clothing, toys, and other items.

Staples and Office Outlet breached the condition, which also restricted the sale of stationery. BCP Council planning officers are now considering getting legal advice over the matter before they make a decision on Aldi’s proposals.

Aldi’s planning application states the proposed shop would “address the limited discount food store provision in the area” – although rival chain Lidl has a store less than a mile away in Hatch Pond Road.

In 2014, Aldi was also refused planning permission to trade from the neighbouring unit at Poole Retail Park. At the time the council said a supermarket would be “inappropriate on a retail park designated for DIY retail and bulky good sales”.

Aldi’s latest planning application argues there are currently several vacant units in retail parks throughout Poole, and “the loss of this unit to a discount food store will not have an impact on the overall stock of available bulky goods/ DIY floorspace across the borough”.

Planning officers have told Aldi it would be “helpful” if it provided “further information on current vacancies in the retail parks”.

They are also requesting a more detailed and up-to-date sequential test to explore the potential for alternative sites for a supermarket in Poole town centre.

“The proposed food store does not conform to the Poole Local Plan policy requirements for retail parks. Further information is needed on the assertion that there are vacancies in the retail parks that would warrant departure from this policy stance,” they said.

“Although located on a retail park reserved for bulky goods the store has been used for a considerable time for the sale of stationery and this is a material consideration in respect of the condition placed on the unit in 1995. Legal advice may be necessary to understand if the condition has been breached indefinitely, or whether the closure of the store reverts to the original condition,” they added.

Office Outlet, formerly known as Staples, went into administration in March, putting 1,200 jobs at risk.