ONE of the most popular supermarkets in the country could turn a dated business park into a new store and create 40 jobs.
Aldi hopes to turn Pinfold Trading Estate, in Stapleford, into its latest branch and also leave room for new homes.
But before a planning application for the Nottingham Road site is submitted, the supermarket will hold a public meeting on Wednesday from 3pm to 7pm at The Meeting Place, in the same road.
Tracey Marvin, co-founder of the community centre, said: "I think that any business that provides jobs in an area of high unemployment is a good thing.
"We will support anything that helps local people. We are lacking large local supermarkets and hopefully, if it goes ahead, it will bring people to the town which could benefit other businesses.
"If the rest of the land they don't use is used for affordable housing, I can't see a problem with a small number of new homes. The land does look dated and it does need redeveloping."
Last year, businesses at the park were told that the site would be cleared to make way for 50 new homes. Since then, many of them have left.
Gino Iacovitti, owner of Gino's restaurant, in Nottingham Road, said: "To me a new store like that would be no problem at all.
"It would bring new people to the town because people like Aldi.
"The business park is rundown and it is about time something was done to it."
This year, Aldi won the Grocer of the Year award for the second year, beating Waitrose and Sainsbury's.
The new store would be made of a combination of materials, including glass and modern cladding , and trees would be planted around the development.
An Aldi spokesman said: "Aldi has existing stores at Long Eaton and Ilkeston. Both are located over three miles from Stapleford and are currently trading at full capacity in the communities they serve.
"We believe that a new Aldi store on Nottingham Road would improve shopping choice for residents of Stapleford and reduce their need to travel out of the town when shopping for food, helping to retain spending in the local area."