A NEW state-of-the-art supermarket is coming to Radcliffe town centre.

Lidl has revealed that it is planning to regenerate to the former bus station site, creating 40 new jobs at a ‘Lidl of the Future’ store.

Bury Council announced more than a year ago that a bid had been accepted to transform the Dale Street area, but the identity of the supermarket has since remained a closely-guarded secret.

However, it has now been confirmed that the German retail giant will be coming to the town centre as part of its massive £1.5 billion expansion plans across the UK, with each new store seeing an investment of more than £2 million.

Cllr Rishi Shori, leader of Bury Council, said: “Attracting a retailer of Lidl’s quality is a direct result of our commitment to and investment in Radcliffe town centre.

“This will bring new and a much needed retail offer and help to ‘knit together’ the town centre with a high quality design, not forgetting the employment opportunities that such a major development brings."

It is hoped that the new development – which will be opposite the town's only current superstore, Asda – will help increase footfall through Radcliffe Market Hall, which has suffered a drop in trade despite a £1 million refurbishment two years ago.

Cllr Shori added: “We promised the people of Radcliffe that they would see real improvements to the town centre and this, combined with all of our other recent investments, is proof that we’ve kept our promises.

“It’s the latest stage of the town centre’s regeneration, following the new bus station and the £1 million refurbishment of the Market Hall, which we hope this new development will complement and rejuvenate.”

Lidl UK’s regional head of property, Nick Harvey, said: "We are extremely excited about the prospect of opening a Lidl in Radcliffe and serving our fresh, quality and incredibly good value produce which shoppers across the country have come to love."

The supermarket will boast an in-store bakery, longer-style tills with dual packing facilities, customer toilets and parking for both cars and bicycles.

Members of the public are being invited to have their say on the proposals, before a formal planning application is submitted.

Information leaflets with tear-off feedback forms are being distributed to properties in the area, and residents can also submit their views by calling 0800 089 0361.

Rumours have circulated about a new supermarket coming to Radcliffe since 2011, when Lidl was named among the budget chains that had expressed an interest in being part of the town's transformation.

Following the renovation of the market hall, work began to upgrade the town centre's bus station, with the new station on the opposite side of Dale Street opening last December.

There have been further major changes to the town since then, most notably the demolition of Radcliffe Civic Suite to make way for a new affordable housing estate.

The Council is planning to build a new leisure and entertainment venue on the site of the former swimming pool in Green Street.