A derelict secondary school site has been earmarked for a new Aldi store.
The discount chain says it will be holding a community consultation on proposals to build on a former campus used by the John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School in Chatham shortly.
The school had served pupils for nearly 60 years across two sites.
Ordnance Street saw teenagers from Year 9 to 13 attend as its main campus, while those in Year 7 and 8 were taught at a separate campus, known as the Lower School in Maidstone Road/Scotteswood Avenue, just under a mile away.
The local authority-run school relocated to a brand new £40million single campus in City Way, Rochester in February 2022.
Passers-by have recently noted signs have appeared outside the gates of the former Maidstone Road/Scotteswood Avenue site warning of the dangers of asbestos and carrying the logo of Aldi.
Now the supermarket giant has confirmed to KentOnline it has taken over this site and works to clear the premises will “soon be underway”.
A spokesperson for Aldi said: “We’re really pleased to have found a site for a new Aldi store in Chatham and look forward to bringing the local community even better access to our award-winning range of products at unbeatable prices.
“Work to clear the site is soon to be underway and we will be launching a full community consultation on our plans in the coming weeks.”
Meanwhile, the other disused school buildings in Ordnance Street have repeatedly been targeted by arsonists, including two times last year, in June and August.
And in October 2023 more than 40 firefighters were sent to tackle a large blaze at the site.
It went on the market in 2023 with a guide price of £2.5million and has since been earmarked for 139 “bespoke” new homes.
Property developers, Eutopia Homes, who took on the original plot, launched a consultation to help residents find out more about their emerging plans for the site.
According to information released on its website promoting the scheme it hopes to “design a new, high-quality and sustainable residential neighbourhood with good access to Chatham town centre and “give a vacant previous educational site an attractive new identity” with a “bespoke design”.
Among the school’s former students are ballroom dancer and television presenter James Jordan, and retired footballer Jimmy Corbett, who played for Gillingham, Blackburn Rovers, Portsmouth and Southend United.
The nearest Aldi stores in Medway at present are at Horsted and Gillingham retail parks, and Friary Place in Strood.
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