The opening of the new Aldi supermarket in Tranent has been delayed, with the still-to-be-built store now unlikely to begin trading before 2016.

A delegation from company last week updated Tranent and Elphinstone Community Council (TECC) on the development’s progress.

They revealed the company was re-applying for planning permission in order to make some amendments to their plans.

Aldi’s James Harbison said: “Rather than Aldi having to apply for a range of variations to what has already been granted, we believe it will be easier to put forward a new application.

“With the principle of a foodstore already consented, we believe this is the best way to go through the process.” In a timeline presented to community councillors, it would appear that building works will not begin on the site until approximately this time next year, with a view to the store being open in January 2016.

The company is currently undertaking ground investigations on the site, and hopes to have those concluded within the next few weeks.

It anticipates building will begin at the site, formerly the Tranmare Hotel, by early July 2015.

News of the delay surprised community councillors, many of whom believed the store would be opening later this year.

Colin Martin, TECC chairman, told the Courier: “I think it will come as a shock to the people of Tranent because I think people thought it was going to be open sooner, even by the end of this year, but as soon as I heard about the planning, I understood the situation.” Graham Nicolson, Aldi property director, led the delegation and outlined plans for the store to have a “community feel”, saying: “We are a family-orientated business and we are very keen to get involved in the local community.

“Our store manager will have a remit to support the community and that is something we will get involved in when the store is closer to opening,” he added.

Despite the news of the delayed opening coming as a setback, there was good news, as Mr Nicolson revealed the company would bring an estimated 30 jobs to the area, in what will be the biggest Aldi store in the county.

He said: “Ideally we would recruit locally unless we can’t find the calibre of person. We don’t operate ‘zero hours’ contracts.” This news was music to the ears of Mr Martin, who said: “It is really pleasing to hear that they are willing to be a part of the community.

“That was the first thing they said to me before the meeting and they have already said they want to get involved with groups like the community council, which is great, because not all these big companies can be like that.”