A DISCOUNT food retailer has announced plans to open a new store as part of a controversial housing development in Wrexham.

Aldi have revealed plans, which could create up to 40 new jobs, to build the new supermarket on approximately three acres of land at the corner of Gresford Road and the Straight Mile in Llay, which is part of a much wider scheme to build more than 300 new homes.

The award-winning retailer said the plans would provide an attractive, modern, food store in a convenient and accessible location for the residents of Llay and its neighbouring communities and include a 120 capacity carpark.

The plans, which include a main site entrance on Gresford Road, were announced on Monday, as part of the statutory 28 day consultation process and will not be submitted to Wrexham Council until July.

A public exhibition to showcase the plans and take feedback is being held at Llay Miners Welfare Institute on Tuesday, June 11 where members of the project team will be available to talk through the proposals in more detail and answer questions the public might have.

Work on the Home Farm development began in April with Bellway Homes and Anwyl Homes constructing 362 new properties, plans which were given permission on appeal by then First Minister Carwyn Jones despite widespread objections.

The Crown crossroads have previously been described as "a nightmare" by local residents, with traffic regularly gridlocked and is a situation that is likely to get worse with the increase in customer traffic and the expected 3-4 deliveries a day, seven days a week once the new store is up and running.

Cllr Rob Walsh said that while his own feelings on the development on the land at Home Farm are well documented, the initial feelings of the people of Llay have been positive about the proposed new store.

He said: “While I’m not jumping for joy about the announcement, the views of the people of Llay are obviously very important and initial comments seem to be very positive.

“I think Llay does need greater shopping facilities because we are definitely weak in that aspect.

“My only concerns at the moment are the Crown crossroads, which are only going to get worse once the housing estate goes up and having a large retail development too, they will be simply gridlocked.”

Cllr Walsh also stated his concern for the residents of Old Meadow Court, who he said have been “put through hell” and let down by many people and bodies over the development so far.

He said: “I won’t tolerate them being bullied again over any other development.”

Local resident Dennis Owen said he would have preferred a much smaller store than the one being proposed and while he isn't against it as such, the unresolved issue of the Crown crossroads remains his major concern.

He said: "What's frustrating is that when it went to the Welsh Assembly for outline planning, they granted permission for a 300 square metre retail development, but this 1200 square metres.

"I'm against any retail type development on agricultural land, but my main concern is the likely increase in the the amount of traffic using the crown crossroads, improvements for which, still haven't been approved by Wrexham council.

"There are likely to be hundreds of cars visiting the supermarket on a daily basis and I don't think the crossroads will be able to handle it and that's the main concern for those of us living on Gresford Road."

The public exhibition will take place at Llay Miners Welfare on Tuesday, June 11 between 3-7pm.