Construction work has commenced on a new Lidl supermarket at Stewartstown Road in West Belfast, spearheading a significant investment and jobs boost for the local area.

As initial building works progress at the back of the site the existing store will remain open. The store will temporarily close in early August for the final phase of works to facilitate the demolition and rebuild of the new store

During the construction phase over 100 jobs will be supported and once the new store opens 20 new jobs

will be added to Lidl Norther Ireland's established local team of 20 in West Belfast.

This new store received planning approval last year from Belfast City Council following an extensive public, consultation to replace the existing store and add more space as part of a new, bright and modern design that promotes sustainability and an improved customer shopping experience.

This new store will include a larger sales area of 1670 sq.m with 150 parking spaces including six dedicated accessible bays and six parent and child bays. It will also feature an in-house bakery, wider aisles and longer, more spacious checkout areas, customers bathroom and employee welfare facilities. Once opened, the Stewartstown store will also be one of the most sustainable in the region, with LED lighting, heat pumps and PV solar panels reducing carbon emissions and will include an onsite pollinator garden encouraging biodiversity.

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Lidl Northern Ireland's Regional Managing Director Ivan Ryan said: "Our Stewartstown Road store was one of the first to open in the region so it’s only fitting that, in our milestone 25th anniversary year, we’re progressing construction of a modern new store for our valued local customers.

"Located next to a busy retail complex and serving a thriving community, the store’s transformation will positively impact the area, with new landscaped pathways providing improved accessibility to the store as well as a modern shopping experience that brings real choice and value to shoppers every day.

"As we break ground on the new store, we are working closely with our contractor to carefully plan construction to best meet the needs of the local community, ensuring that the existing Stewartstown Road can remain open for as long as possible as works progress.

"This is a highly anticipated project and we have liaised extensively with local representatives and the wider community to realise this significant investment. When completed, the new Stewartstown Road store will represent an outstanding addition to the local area, and we look forward to unveiling the new-look store later this year."

Welcoming the investment, Edwin Poots MLA said: "We welcome the news that Lidl are investing in a new replacement store which will benefit the entire community."

Local Sinn Fein councillor Seanna Walsh said: "We warmly welcome Lidl Northern Ireland’s commitment to the Stewartstown Road area and community. Delivering greater choice and value, new jobs and greater economic activity, this new store will help to enhance our focus on regeneration and sustainability, and we are thrilled that Lidl’s longstanding commitment to strengthening the community relationships will deliver transformational rewards for everyone."