This is Gloucestershire --RETAIL giant Asda has announced multi-million pound plans to join Stroud's battle of the supermarkets.
The store has unveiled proposals to create 250 new jobs by opening on what is now the Daniel's Industrial Estate off Bath Road in Lightpill.
Asda spokesman Oliver Jones said the company was "really excited" about the prospect of becoming part of the Stroud community.
"While it's our low prices on everyday essentials which make us famous, we want to make sure we reflect the individual nature of Stroud, whether that's through our Community Life charitable and volunteering programme or through our approach to local sourcing," he said.
A public consultation event is due to be held shortly before an application for planning permission is submitted to Stroud District Council.
There are, however, currently 24 businesses at Daniel's including the Meningitis Trust charity and Springfield Engineering, which employs 42 people. They would all have to relocate for Asda to go ahead.
But retail analysts have already told the district council that Stroud's existing supermarkets are over trading and that at least one more could be accommodated.
Already, developers have recently displayed plans for another supermarket in Ryeford.
It seems a battle between them, and maybe others, is joined – depending on their various sizes – the district council's head of planning Phil Skill said.
"We are aware of a number of supermarkets being interested in Stroud as a dynamic location," he said.
"This site is merely one of a small number which could be redeveloped."
Asda's scheme includes a 36,665sq ft store, petrol filling station, 300 car parking spaces and a cafe.
Daniels' owners, Stroud-based Industrial Sales Ltd, said 25% of its 32 unitson the site were vacant and difficult to let.
"That is partly because of the economic downturn and partly because the buildings are no longer suited to modern business use," a spokesman said.
Industrial Sales had been speaking to its tenants for some time about the need to redevelop the site, he said.
Industrial Sales has owned the site since 1986 when it was home to John Brown Plastics Machinery Ltd. The name Daniels harks back to earlier local family ownership.
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