A CIRENCESTER supermarket has announced plans to expand, three months after an application for a new store made by its closest rival was given approval.

The Lidl supermarket, located in Love Lane, has submitted plans for a front and side extension in which a new in-store bakery will be built.

As well as the new bakery, the extension will create additional storage space for fresh fruit and vegetables and a new welfare area for customers.

Also included in the application are plans for a bigger staff room, new male and female cloakrooms and customer toilets.

The front entrance and exit lobbies will also be expanded and the exterior walls and windows will be refurbished with more up to date materials.

In order to accommodate the extension, a total of 22 spaces will have to be taken out of the car park.

Speaking at the most recent meeting of Cirencester Town Council’s planning committee, Cllr Roly Hughes said it was likely that the plans had been submitted in anticipation of competition from a new Aldi store.

In October of last year, plans were submitted by Aldi to Cotswold District Council to put a store on the site of the old Volkswagen showroom on Cricklade Road.

Aldi confirmed that, should the new store be permitted, it would benefit Cirencester’s economy by creating 10 full jobs and 20 part time positions.

Both applications will go before CDC’s planning committee in the near future where a final decision will be made.

To view the plans, visit www.cotswold.gov.uk.