BIG-name store group Sainsbury's is planning a move into Lydney with a huge raft of developments, including a new market square along with a new store.

Sainsbury's, and developer Robert Hitchins Ltd., who will undertake the construction work, say they will be consulting local people on the project before finalising the outline.

The Review understands town and district councillors were being briefed on the extensive plans for the Crump Farm area on Tuesday this week and are believed to be delighted at the news.

A Sainsbury's spokesman said: "Robert Hitchins Ltd and Sainsbury's will be consulting local people on their plans to invest in Lydney, including a new store, a neighbourhood centre to serve new housing in the area and a market square, which would echo Lydney's status as a market town.

"Sainsbury's store would create 180 full and part-time local jobs and the new retail units within the neighbourhood centre would bring further employment.

"As part of the consultation, the developers are particularly keen for people's views on how the market square could best be used to serve the people of Lydney."

The proposals and architects' impressions of what they will look like will be on show at the Annexe Inn, Newerne Street, on Friday July 6 between 11am and 7pm, and Saturday July 7 between 10am and 2pm.

The store area will include more than 400 parking spaces for shoppers, a customer café, a petrol station, cash points and a recycling bank, while the proposed neighbourhood centre sees retail units to serve new housing developments, the market square, a new village green area, improved pedestrian and cycle links from the rest of the town. Listed buildings at Crump Farm will be preserved for residential use.

Sainsbury's regional development executive Ben Littman said: "People in Lydney deserve a wider choice for their weekly shop without having to travel long distances from home. A Sainsbury's would provide this on their doorstep, so we are coming to Lydney to ask people for their views.

"Importantly, our proposal would also create a large number of jobs for local people. Sainsbury's colleagues have the opportunity to pursue a range of careers, gain nationally recognised qualifications and benefit from flexible working practices to meet their individual needs."

Andrew Hill, land and planning director for Robert Hitchins, said: "We are delighted to be working with Sainsbury's to present these plans for Lydney. The housing development and neighbourhood centre has already been approved in principle and we believe that the detailed proposals for the neighbourhood centre, market square and Sainsbury's store can work well together and should bring considerable benefits to the local community."