BUDGET supermarket giant Aldi has submitted plans for a new Dorset store – investing £7 million and creating dozens of jobs.

The chain has applied to Dorset Council for permission to build a food store at the North Dorset Business Park, off Rolls Mill Way, in Sturminster Newton.

And the firm said it was grateful for “hundreds of supportive comments” from residents in response to the plans, which will now be considered by council planners.

Elliott Saunders, real estate director at Aldi, said: “We are very pleased to have submitted the planning application for a new Aldi store in Sturminster Newton.

“During our public consultation last year, over 500 people (95% of responses) said that a new Aldi store would benefit the local area. We thank local people for giving us this vote of confidence and are committed to continued engagement with the local community and the council.”

Aldi said the new Sturminster Newton supermarket would bring:

• A new Aldi food store: giving people in Sturminster Newton better access to Aldi’s award-winning range of high-quality products at the lowest possible prices.
• Approximately 40 new local jobs, paid at the highest rates in the sector – above the National Living Wage.
• Additional employment opportunities created during construction and through the supply chain.
• Free customer car parking spaces including accessible spaces and parent & child spaces.
• Electric vehicle charging points with additional infrastructure installed so further points can be added in the future.
• Extensive cycle parking for customers and staff to encourage active travel.
• An investment of £7 million: benefiting Sturminster Newton and the wider area.

For more details of the plans, and to comment, log on to dorsetcouncil.gov.uk and search application reference P/FUL/2026/00624.

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