SUPERMARKET giant Aldi has taken a step forward in its plans to open a new store on the edge of Haddington.

Aldi has lodged plans for signs on its approved premises at Gateside Retail Park, on the town’s western edge.

The supermarket chain confirmed at the beginning of the year that it would be closing its store on the town’s Whittingehame Drive as part of the move.

The current 17 members of staff at the town centre business will move to the new store, which will be 50 per cent larger than the existing premises.

Work on the retail park has ground to a halt due to the coronavirus, with the site’s opening date now unknown.

The Food Warehouse, part of the Iceland brand, has also been confirmed as one of the five businesses at the site.

Home Bargains and Costa are thought to be keen to move to the retail park, which is sandwiched between the A199 and B6471.

The retail park was approved at the end of last year and will feature three major stores, two restaurants, including one drive-thru, and about 300 parking spaces.

A Starbucks drive-thru, on a neighbouring site to the east, has already been approved, while a petrol station and shop, to the west of the retail park, have also been given the green light.

When the move was announced, Richard Holloway, Aldi’s regional managing director for Scotland, said: “This is an exciting time for Aldi as we plan for the next 25 years.

“Our new state-of-the-art storage and chill facility. . . will aid our expansion across Scotland while allowing us to increase the range of Scottish products available on our shelves.”

Aldi also confirmed that a purchaser for its existing site had been identified but the intended use for the site was unknown.

 

 

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