A German supermarket which has had ambitious expansion plans for years is set to open a new store at a retail park in Reading.
Lidl, which announced it has plans to open hundreds of new stores in the UK last month, is hoping to open its fifth store in the Reading area at a retail park off Oxford Road.
The German supermarket has applied to sell alcohol from 7am to 11pm each day at units 2 and 6 of the Reading Retail Park, located near the Norcot junction.
It is understood that Lidl intends to take over Unit 2 currently occupied by Halfords, and Unit 6, a dilapidated store which used to be occupied by Carpetright.
Planning agents for retail park owners CT UK Property have previously suggested that Halfords will downsize into the former Wrens Kitchens store.
The unoccupied Wren Kitchens unit, set to be modified and occupied so that Halfords can move at the Reading Retail Park in Oxford Road.
Changes allowing Halfords to operate in the unit from 8am to 8pm Monday to Saturday under planning application 240527 were approved on June 7.
READ MORE: Plan for Halfords to downsize and relocate in busy Reading retail park
Lidl has submitted a licence application to sell alcohol to Reading Borough Council.
You can respond to a statutory consultation into the application by emailing licensing@reading.gov.uk.
The deadline for responses closes on Monday, August 5.
The Halfords and an unoccupied unit at the Reading Retail Park in Oxford Road, due for a conversion into Lidl.
Once open, the new Lidl will be just over a mile away from its store at 291 Oxford Road, next to McDonald's.
A spokesperson for the supermarket giant confirmed that there are no plans to close the existing store.
There are also Lidl branches in Whitley, the A4 Bath Road in West Reading and Woodley.
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