A NEW supermarket will create around 40 jobs when it opens next summer, bosses have confirmed.

The Lidl store is under construction at Basildon’s new St Hilary’s Retail Park, off Miles Gray Road, opposite Pipps Hill Retail Park, and will open next summer.

Once complete, the retail park will boast a Greggs as well as the Lidl and other shops.

Residents and councillors have welcomed the boost to the town’s economy.

Madeline Crossman, 75, from Laindon said: “I think it’s good to see new jobs being created for the town and Lidl does offer great value too.

“It is convenient for people who drive but probably less so for those who do not. I think it probably will be popular with shoppers.

“We do have other Lidl stores in the town and retail parks like this are doing very well and getting very busy.”

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Kevin Blake, Tory deputy leader of Basildon Council, said it’s great news for Basildon.

He added: “I think it shows Basildon is a place to come and live. These jobs will help create spending money which helps keep other people employed too.

“Hopefully the people in these jobs will buy property and live here too. I do shop at Lidl and think it has some great deals.

“I think this store will work well there as we are seeing our retails parks like this booming.”

Other businesses confirmed to be opening include home improvement store Tile Mountain and self-storage business Lok’nStore.

A spokesman for Lidl said: “We are delighted to confirm that construction of the St Hilary Retail Park, which will be home to our new Lidl store in Basildon, is well underway.

It’s due to open Summer 2023 “The new supermarket represents a multi-million pound investment for the local area and the creation of around 40 jobs once the store opens.

“The new store will help to provide local residents in and around Basildon with an even greater selection of Lidl’s high quality and affordable produce. We would like to thank everyone for their continued patience and look forward to sharing more information closer to opening.”