A NEW affordable supermarket, which is estimated to create 40 new jobs in Droitwich, is starting to take shape.

Construction on the Lidl store in Kidderminster Road started in late summer last year and is due to open sometime in spring 2019, after an expected eight-month build.

The 1,325 square metre supermarket replaces now-demolished buildings which occupied Acorn Catering Equipment and was given the thumbs up by Wychavon District Council in May.

The layout is set to include 118 car parking spaces, including six disabled and eight parent and child spaces.

Off George Baylis Road, the store will neighbour Droitwich Spa Retail Park and sit opposite Aldi in Berry Hill Industrial Estate.

There was plenty of support for the scheme from Wychavon planning committee members, including Councillor Margaret Rowley who said the supermarket is “much-needed”.

Councillor Bob Brookes said it would be an improvement to what is “officially a brownfield site”.

However, a proposal put forward by Councillor Richard Morris for the development of the Westlands roundabout, near to where the supermarket is being built, was rejected by the county council.

It felt the building of the supermarket was unlikely to bring a significant number of extra people to the area as the supermarket will be relying on taking custom from neighbouring rival stores.

It was reported nationally earlier this month that two-thirds of UK households favoured a discounter supermarket rather than a major one over Christmas amid a Brexit spending squeeze.

Lidl’s sales jumped up by 9.4 per cent and Aldi’s 10.4 per cent, according to the latest data from Kantar Worldpanel, while Iceland’s went up by 1.8 per cent.

The industry figures were released as Morrisons reported a slowdown in sales growth over Christmas as it said shoppers had become “more cautious and careful” amid the political uncertainty around Brexit, reported The Guardian.

Lidl UK’s regional head of property, Jeremy Lee, said: “There’s been much anticipation for this new Lidl store and it’s great that we can start the build.

“We are extremely grateful for all the support that we have received so far, and would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding whilst we enter this next phase of the development.”