COULD discount supermarket giant Lidl be heading to Cross Hands as part of a multi million pound retail development by Leekes that could also see more than a 100 jobs created?

A large food retailer building, along with a terrace of seven retail units could be built on the site of the large car park at the Cross Hands department store.

Plans submitted this week to Carmarthenshire County Council show that Gerald Leeke of Leekes Ltd is applying for permission for the construction of a single unit food store, with a row of five retail units plus two further adjacent retail or food concessions on the land at Heol Stanllyd.

The development would see the food store being constructed at the bottom end of the car park with a terrace walk leading the Leekes store- which recently underwent a £1m refurbishment and is hoped will secure the long term presence of Leekes in the town.

German chain Lidl, which also has a branch in Ammanford, have been linked as occupiers of the 23,121 square feet unit after a retail report accompanying the planning application made references to a discount supermarket and stated that it would “compete directly with the Aldi”- which is situated on the Cross Hands roundabout.

Plans show a simple store layout with a bakery and freezer and fridge sections. An upper floor would house the staff and office areas.

The other units, of varying sizes, have been created for ‘quality high street shopping” from “well known retailers” all complimenting the Leekes store.

Lidl had failed to comment on the development at the time of going to press.

The news comes as Sainsbury once again refused to state whether they had withdrawn from the Cross Hands West development or that the planned super store was still going ahead.