Budget supermarket giant Aldi has confirmed it plans to open a new superstore in St Ives.

The Hunts Post revealed in July that representatives from the German firm, which has more than 10,000 stores across Europe, had visited both St Ives Town Council and Holywell-cum-Needingworth Parish Council to set out its vision for a new store.

This week, the retailer moved another step forward by submitting a formal planning application to Huntingdonshire District Council for a branch on a two-acre brownfield site in Stockbridge Way.

The retailer is hoping to open in the town in late 2018, or early 2019, and, according to a presentation given to St Ives Town Council’s planning committee on June 28, the firm hopes to create about 50 jobs and will focus on “recruiting locally”.

In its submission to the district council, Aldi said: “The elevations for the Aldi food store combine contemporary high quality materials and features with elements derived contextually.

“The new Aldi unit has been positioned at the north of the site, to maximise the number of parking spaces thus alleviating pressure on local traffic.

“Our proposals strive to produce a design which does not try to replicate existing buildings or styles but is a more innovative and distinctive design of a high standard, making a positive contribution to the visual quality of the environment, as well as regenerating the site with a development that fits both visually and functionally into the surroundings.”

News of the Aldi proposal follows a recent flurry of development in the area, with Costa Coffee and McDonald’s having been granted permission to open new outlets to the west of the site, and rival supermarket retailer Morrison’s having secured planning permission for a new store to the south of the site.

In its application to the district council, Aldi maintained that the site retains good transport and pedestrian links to the centre of the town, and would be a positive addition to the area.

The retailer added: “The proposal ensures pedestrians are provided with a safe environment for ease of movement throughout the site and to the site from the wider area.”

To find out more about the plans, or to have a say, log on to www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk.