A new Lidl supermarket is set to be built in Kingston following an agreement between the supermarket chain and Wickes over a site on London Road, it has been announced.

On Friday (February 12), a spokesperson for Lidl confirmed that their plans to convert the Wickes hardware store into a new Lidl supermarket were moving forward after an "exchange of contracts" between the two companies over the London Road site.

Lidl said their plans amounted to a multi-million pound investment and commitment to build a store with a 1,518m² sales area, plus goals to create "around 40 new full time and part time jobs".

The supermarket will boast facilities "including an instore bakery, customer toilets and ample parking for both cars and bicycles", Lidl said.

"We are extremely excited about the prospect of opening a new Lidl in Kingston and serving our fresh, quality and incredibly good value produce which shoppers across the country have come to love," Lidl GB’s Regional Head of Property, Henry Neel, said.

"Our plans are set to create around 40 new positions which would be fantastic for the local community, and we hope that as many people as possible are able to join us for this 'virtual' public consultation.

"We look forward to sharing and discussing our plans with everyone," he added.

Residents in the area are meanwhile due to be informed via a leaflet that Lidl said would be distributed "containing further information about the development and includes details of how residents can support the proposals and submit a formal comment on the Council planning website".

Anyone with queries about the project are urged to email the supermarket chain's new email address for the site: newlidl.kingston@lidl.co.uk or write letters to Lidl UK, Property Office, 1st Floor, 33 Aberconway Road, Morden, SM4 5LN.