UP TO 40 new jobs look set to be created as plans are revealed to build a budget supermarket on Portland.

Lidl, which already has a store in Dorchester Road, Weymouth, has submitted plans to Weymouth and Portland Borough Council for a new site on Hamm Beach Road at Osprey Quay.

Lidl said its plans represent a multi-million-pound investment in the area and will create much-needed jobs.

Portland has a Tesco superstore at Easton and smaller Co-operative stores around the island but Lidl would be the island's first budget supermarket.

The announcement is the latest in a string of new retail stores which have opened across the borough, creating new jobs. Aldi's Link Park store at Chickerell opened a year ago followed by two new Co-operatives stores in the area.

Earlier this year, Aldi announced it wanted to build a new store at the Weymouth Gateway site, replacing the existing site at Jubilee Retail Park.

Meanwhile, Home Bargains is due to open a new store at Littlemoor shopping centre at the end of this month.

The Echo reported yesterday how Tesco planned to open a new Express store on part of the site of the former Texaco garage in Portland Road at Wyke Regis.

Lidl's Portland store would add to the firm's existing store portfolio of 710.

The company's growth plans will see it open up to 50 new stores a year.

The latest Kantar Worldpanel data shows Lidl’s increase in sales year on year with a market share of 5.5 per cent in the UK food market.

Matthias Daly, Lidl UK’s regional head of property, said: “We are delighted to announce that we have submitted a planning application with Weymouth & Portland Borough Council.

"If granted this would mark a multi-million-pound investment in the area and the creation of new jobs when the store opens. We forward to receiving the decision in due course.”

Councillor Richard Nickinson, economic development briefholder at Weymouth and Portland Borough Council said that he welcomed any plans that would create jobs and bring wealth creation to the area however he stressed that he wanted to see the detailed plans before making any further comment.

Council leader Jeff Cant, added: "Any business bringing jobs to the area is to be welcomed as long as the developer meets the planning conditions for the site."

A council spokesman said that they had received Lidl's planning application and added that they were in the process of validating it.

Under the plans submitted to the council, the Lidl store on Portland will include a1,104m² sales area and will feature facilities including an in-store bakery, customer toilets and parking for cars and bicycles.

Councillors are expected to determine the application in the new year.