SUPERMARKET giant Aldi is looking to build a new store in Basingstoke which would create around 30 to 35 new jobs for the town.

Aldi has confirmed 21 locations across Hampshire and surrounding areas it is targeting to open new stores, including Basingstoke.

The UK’s fifth largest supermarket, which has 900 stores across the UK including one at St Michael’s Retail Park, in Basingstoke, and one in Winklebury, has been on an expansion drive in recent years, opening around one new store a week on average.

It is now looking for freehold town-centre or edge-of-centre sites at 21 locations in Hampshire and nearby for new stores, with Basingstoke on the list for a possible new development.

The sites need to be around 1.5 acres and able to accommodate a 20,000 square foot store with around 100 parking spaces, ideally on a prominent main road with good access.

Ciaran Aldridge, national property director at Aldi UK, said: “We have been investing in Britain for more than 30 years now, but we know that there are still areas that either do not have an Aldi at all, or that need another store to meet customer demand.

“Shoppers are increasingly looking to get unbeatable prices on their weekly shop without compromising on quality. That’s why, more so than ever, we’re keen to explore all opportunities to open new stores across the country.”

The full list of locations it is targeting in Hampshire and surrounding areas are:

• Aldershot

• Petersfield

• Aldershot

• Basingstoke

• Farnborough

• Andover

• Bournemouth

• Bordon

• Eastleigh

• Gosport

• Hedge End

• Lyminton

• New Milton

• Portchester

• Portsmouth

• Ringwood

• Southampton

• South Hayling

• Totton

• Waterlooville

• Winchester