At least 40 jobs are to be created as plans have been submitted for the opening of a new, ultra eco-friendly Lidl supermarket in Medway Road, Gillingham. The discount food retailer hopes to build a new store on a vacant plot of land opposite Pier Road as part of a "multi-million pound investment" - while also confirming that they are already looking to open further stores in the Medway area. Artist's impression of the new Lidl store in Gillingham - © One Design Architects Subject to approval, the 1,068sqm supermarket will include an in-store bakery, customer toilets and a total of 98 parking spaces, including 6 disabled parking bays and a further 8 parent and child bays. Cycle parking will also be provided in the form of 10 cycle stands. The store has been designed to be ultra eco-friendly throughout, with a staggering 558 solar panels covering the roof generating an expected yield of 142,849kWh per year, in addition to the installation of LED lighting and the use of recycled materials for the floor inside. Although this will be Medway's very first Lidl store, the retailer has already confirmed that it has its eyes set on further expansion within the Medway area. The vacant site north of Medway Road in Gillingham - © Google Maps A statement in the planning application reveals that Lidl is "actively looking at other sites that meet their requirements in the Medway area" in addition to their proposed store in Gillingham "in line with their on-going expansion plans". Currently, the only Lidl stores located nearby are in Maidstone, Sittingbourne and Gravesend.
Discount food retailers have gained enormous popularity in the UK over the past few years, with the likes of Lidl and Aldi - both originally from Germany - reporting increasing market share in an even more diverse and challenging retail environment than ever before. There are three Aldi stores in the Medway area; located at Friary Place in Strood, Duncan Road, Gillingham and at Gillingham Business Park just off Bowaters Roundabout. A new Aldi store is currently being built at Horsted Retail Park in Chatham and is expected to open by spring 2020. First entering the UK market in 1994, Lidl has successfully opened over 700 stores throughout the UK. Its popularity with British consumers has been pinpointed to its business model of offering a limited range of goods that are primarily 'own label' brands with superior quality and value than traditional 'comparison' products. And when should we expect the Lidl store to open in Gillingham? Speaking to Future Chatham, Oliver Thomas, Corporate Communications Officer for Lidl, said: "Once a committee date has been set to review our proposals, we'll be in a better position to share timings regarding construction and opening." You may view the plans by clicking here or by searching the application reference MC/19/1875 on Medway Council's Planning Portal website.
Paul
25/7/2019 19:02:11
There are 3 Aldi's in Medway, you forgot the one just off the A2 in Gillingham Comments are closed.
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