ALMOST 300 new jobs are promised as developers negotiate over which supermarket will take a £15million foodstore planned for Stroud.
Proposals for the foodstore on disused brownfield land at Ryeford have just been unveiled by Manchester-based PAG – the Property Alliance Group.
The scheme, suggested near the Ebley Bypass Ryeford junction, had been brought forward after research showed a significant number of Stonehouse and King's Stanley residents travelled out of the area to do their main weekly grocery shop, said PAG spokesman Rob Loughenbury.
He said 275 new jobs would be created.
"They are new jobs. It is not going to be the relocation of an existing store," Mr Loughenbury said. At 55,000 square feet, the supermarket would be comparable to Sainsbury's in Stroud.
It would include a petrol station, he added.
"Negotiations are ongoing with leading foodstore retails interested in operating the store and an announcement will be made regarding the selected retailer at a later stage."
Rumours were rife in Stroud in January that the valleys' supermarket war had reached fever pitch.
Then Morrisons and Asda were among those suggested as keen to build stores in Stroud after retail experts said the town could accommodate one more supermarket. PAG, who are an investors and developers, are now to hold a two-day public exhibition of their plans to gather local residents' views.
The events will be on Friday, June 23, from 3pm to 7pm at the King's Head in King's Stanley and on Saturday, June 22, from noon to 4pm at Stonehouse Community Centre.
A leaflet giving details of the exhibitions and outlining the proposals will also be delivered to 5,000 properties around the site later this week.
Mr Loughenbury said feedback from the public would then be used to shape the scheme before a planning application would then be submitted to the Stroud District Council.
"The store design is bespoke to the rich industrial heritage of the local area and is influenced by the Stonehouse Design Statement," he said.
"Extensive landscaping will be used to minimise the visual impact on the Cotswold area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
"The proposals also include habitats for wildlife and for new footpaths."