A SUPERMARKET giant has revealed plans for a new store in the city centre which would create 40 new jobs.

Budget retailer Lidl hopes to open a new store at the junction of The Avenue and Banister Road.

Lying on the site of the former H.A Fox Jaguar showroom it is hoped the multi-million-pound supermarket will be open this autumn.

The brownfield site will be transformed to create 1,329m² of shopping space.

Daily Echo:

With an in-store bakery, Lidl reports the retail project would create 40 new jobs.

A spokesperson for the chain said: "We are looking forward to bringing a new Lidl store to Banister Road, and hope to open in the autumn.

"It is our strong belief that the local community will benefit enormously from the new store, which marks a multi-million pound investment in the redevelopment of a brownfield site, and will create up to 40 new jobs for the local community.

"Our new store will enhance the retail offering in the area, proving customers with Lidl's offering of high quality affordable fresh produce. Additionally, once opened, the store will donate edible food surplus to local good causes, through our 'Feed it Back' scheme.

"Featuring a 1,329m² shopping area, the new store will also offer 115 parking spaces including electric vehicle charging points, as well as in-store bakery, customer toilets and baby changing facilities.

In February crowds of excited shoppers queued in the rain eagerly awaiting the opening of Southampton's newest Lidl store off Shirley High Street.

The new supermarkets form part of Lidl’s ongoing expansion and regeneration plans in the UK which will see it open up to 50 new stores a year.

It has hopes to expand across the Solent area with nine new stores and continue its “phenomenal growth”.

In Southampton, it plans to open stores in Bassett, Bitterne and Portswood, while relocating its store in Totton.

Meanwhile, in the borough of Eastleigh, it plans stores for Chandlers Ford, Hedge End.

Further afield its has its sights on locations in Romsey, Lymington, and in Winchester where it has earmarked sites in the town centre and at Badgers Farm.