Long-awaited plans for a new budget supermarket in Witham have finally been unveiled.

German retail giant Lidl has been working on plans for a new store at the site of the former Bramston Sports Centre, in Bridge Street, since 2016 when the chain offered to buy the land from Braintree Council.

Now a planning application has been submitted to the council for a 2,200sqm store which would bring 30 new jobs to the town.

A planning statement reads: “The proposed new store will bring Lidl’s unique mix of brands and value to Witham giving residents a real alternative to the narrow range of existing supermarkets in the town.

“The location will be easily accessible by foot or cycle or by short local car journeys, avoiding the need to drive to Braintree, Heybridge or Chelmsford.

“The building will be low-profile, not overbearing on it’s residential neighbours, but will provide a clean, modern lift set back from Bridge Street.”

Plans state that the store would open by late 2018 and 20 full-time and ten part-time roles will be available.

Lidl said it hopes that the new store would have a positive impact on the town centre, in a similar way to other stores across the country.

The statement continues: “In the long term it is likely that the town centre will benefit from a net positive impact as the proposed store will draw shoppers back from other locations and support the vitality and viability of the town centre.

“In addition the occurrence of linked trips provides scope for the Lidl store to have a positive impacts on the centre, through generating increased footfall and spin-off trade for existing retailers and service providers.

“Moreover, the fact that linked trips are being made – with both non-food stores and other grocery stores – indicates that Lidl supermarkets complement rather than compete with the retail offer traditionally found in town centres, and that Lidl stores can trade alongside existing facilities.”

When it opens, the store will add to Lidl’s portfolio of 670 stores throughout the country - with the company planning to double in size and reach 1,500 stores in the future.

The store would be open 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sundays. Designs for the store’s car park accommodate 122 spaces.