Welcome to Friends of Marsh Lane – a community group opposing the development of an Aldi store at Marsh Lane, Stanmore. We are a growing public campaign in strong opposition to the proposed superstore, with support from people across Harrow, Belmont, Stanmore, Canons Park, Edgware, and Queensbury.

The development is unsuitable for the area, prioritizing vehicle access over people, green space, and heritage. It would lead to more traffic, pollution, and risks to public safety near homes and schools. The contaminated site poses a threat to Stanmore Marsh and local biodiversity, with no robust clean-up plan. There are also serious concerns about crime, anti-social behaviour, and harm to local shops.

Aldi has submitted an appeal against Harrow Council's "refusal" decision, with the Planning Inspectorate. Some locals received letter dates 16th April 2026, outlining this. This letter also stated how people can lodge their comments to the appeal, and how to apply for Rule 6 Status. The later will allow residents groups, like Friends of Marsh Lane, to become a formal party to the appeal, beyond ordinary objector status. 

What are Aldi's grounds for Appeal

The grounds of appeal are a rebuttal to each refusal reason stated by Harrow Council, with Aldi stating that the proposal complies with the development plan when read as a whole, and that the council was wrong in refusing permission. Aldi believes that the proposed food store:

• Satisfies the sequential and policy tests for out-of-centre retail development.

• Meets an identified retail need and does not prejudice protected employment/utility functions.

• Would not give rise to unacceptable impacts on nearby centres.

• Adequately protects ecological interests.

• Provides acceptable transport and parking arrangements.

• Makes efficient and appropriate use of the site.

• Properly addresses flood risk and drainage matters.

Overall, Aldi argues that the reasons for refusal are not justified on planning grounds and that the benefits of the proposal outweigh any perceived harm.

Guidance for commenting on the Appeal

While earlier objections remain on record, the appeal is a separate stage, and the Inspector will consider the evidence submitted during this process. Submitting comments again can therefore be helpful.

Rather than resending your original objection, it is more effective to provide a focused appeal response that:

• Supports the Council’s reasons for refusal

• Responds to points made in Aldi’s appeal

• Updates or strengthens your earlier concerns where relevant (or concerns raised by FOML)

You may wish to comment on issues such as:

• Conflict with planning policy

• Traffic and road safety

• Flood risk and drainage

• Impact on ecology and Stanmore Marsh

• Public health and residential amenity

• Gaps or weaknesses in the appeal evidence

FOML’s objections can be used as a reference, but your own local knowledge and personal experience are especially valuable.

The strongest responses are clear, concise, and focused on planning issues. It is usually more effective to explain why you support refusal, with examples or evidence, rather than simply stating opposition. Individual submissions also help show ongoing community concern and can reinforce the Council’s case.

Comments can be submitted via the Planning Inspectorate portal (Ref: 6005822) by 15 May 2026, so please ensure you respond in time.

Here are more guidelines or commenting on the Appeal.

And here are two examples of objections writeup for guidance a) Short and simple  b) More detailed.

Appeal Documents

• Appeal Submission Form, by Aldi

• Statement of case, by Aldi

Rule 6 Status

Friends of Marsh Lane has applied for Rule 6 status in the appeal before the Planning Inspectorate to help ensure the local community has a strong and formal voice in the process.

• Rule 6 status allows residents’ group to participate in the appeal as a formal party, alongside the developer and the Council, rather than simply as an ordinary objector. If granted, it would enable Friends of Marsh Lane to present its own case directly to the Inspector, submit evidence, challenge the developer’s evidence through questioning at the inquiry, and make formal submissions on why the appeal should be dismissed.

• This matters because the appeal raises significant issues for local residents, including planning policy conflict, traffic and road safety, flood risk, ecology, public health and the protection of Stanmore Marsh. Rule 6 status helps ensure these concerns can be presented fully and independently, supported by local knowledge and evidence, and not solely through the Council’s case.

• While Rule 6 does not determine the outcome of the appeal, it gives the community a much stronger opportunity for its concerns to be properly heard and tested. It allows residents’ evidence to play a more meaningful role in the inquiry and can help ensure all relevant issues receive full scrutiny.

• Importantly, Rule 6 is also about community involvement. If granted, local residents may be able to support the case in a number of ways, including providing witness evidence on matters such as traffic, flooding, ecology, local character or lived impacts of the proposal. Residents with specialist expertise may also be able to assist with technical evidence. Others may support through factual statements, local knowledge, attending the inquiry, or helping present the community’s case.

This is therefore not simply a procedural step. It is a way of helping ensure the community has a direct voice in the appeal and the best possible opportunity for local concerns to be fully represented before a decis