Discount food retailer Aldi is launching a public consultation on plans for a new food store and Costa Coffee drive-thru at Bourton-on-the-Water.

Aldi wants to build the store on a site off the Fosse Way (A429), forming part of the Bourton Industrial Park extension.

The site, which received outline planning approval for employment development in 2018, is currently allocated for employment development in the Cotswold Local Plan and could be transformed into a supermarket and drive-thru coffee shop.

Aldi says the scheme, which could create up to 60 jobs in total, represents a significant economic investment of over £7 million in the area.

Prior to submitting a planning application to Cotswold District Council, Aldi is launching a community consultation to gather insights from Bourton residents.

Bourton currently has a Co-op supermarket in Station Road and a Budgens convenience store in High Street.

On the consultation website, Aldi says: "A new Aldi food store and Costa Coffee drive-thru, well located for the Bourton-on-the-Water community, would improve the local supermarket and café offering, meaning residents will not have to travel to other settlements for a more diversified retail offer.

"Aldi is already a key investor and employer in the region, with existing stores in Moreton-in-Marsh, Chipping Norton, and Cirencester. This area currently lacks a Costa Coffee with the closest one in Chipping Norton or Cheltenham. The proposals would create up to 40 quality full- and part-time jobs for local people paid at Aldi's industry-leading rate, and around 20 jobs at Costa Coffee.

"Aldi wants to improve consumer choice and competition. The local retail offering is currently limited to small convenience stores and more expensive options, with a lack of discount retailers in the immediate area. Our proposals would promote a more sustainable travel pattern, with residents no longer needing to travel further afield for affordable healthy food and fresh produce."

A new signalised junction is proposed at the Fosse Way and Meadow Way junction.

The website adds: "Aldi values community involvement when proposing new stores. To this end, we will be initiating a community consultation to gather insights from the residents of Bourton-on-the-Water before we submit a formal planning application"

The consultation starts tomorrow (Tuesday, September 23) and will be open to comments until Tuesday, October 7. This website will remain accessible throughout the entire planning process.

Once the community consultation concludes, Aldi says it will carefully review all the feedback received and it will help shape the planning application it submits to Cotswold District Council.