BUDGET supermarket chain Aldi will open a store at a new retail park in Prudhoe, it has been confirmed.

Prudhoe Estates, a joint partnership between Advance Northumberland and Northumberland Estates, said on Thursday that contracts had been exchanged with Aldi for a 19,000sq ft space on Tyneview Retail Park. 

Plans for the retail park at Low Prudhoe were approved in September. Although planning documents had indicated that Aldi would take up a premises at the site, the supermarket chain had not confirmed this.

The retail park will also feature other national retailers, a drive-through restaurant and a pub and hotel.

Prudhoe Estates said further announcements about other retailers joining the scheme would be released over the following months.

Work on the site is planned to start in mid-November with the new retail outlets expected to open towards the end of 2020.

Colin Barnes of Northumberland Estates said: “Although one of the larger towns in Northumberland, Prudhoe has a surprisingly limited number and variety of retail outlets for its size.

"With plans for more housing in the town already on the cards, improving the retail offer is vital to avoid trade being lost to neighbouring town centres with more choice.”

Richard Wearmouth, chair of Advance Northumberland, said: “It’s great news that we’ve managed to secure this key tenant for our latest retail park development.

“Many of our towns are continuing to grow and with this comes the need for more shopping and leisure facilities. We’re all looking forward to work starting on site in the next few weeks.”