It is part of a big regeneration for the area with over 100 new homes
06:30, 14 Jan 2026
Up to 640 jobs are being created at discount retailer Lidl as part of plans to open 19 stores over the next eight weeks, as the company continues to ramp up its expansion. One new store is set to open in Essex. The German budget supermarket chain said the store openings will see it gain a presence in new parts of the UK, including locations such as Calne in Wiltshire and Brough in Yorkshire.
Richard Taylor, chief real estate officer at Lidl’s UK operations, said: “We’re starting the new year as we mean to go on, with a major investment that reinforces our commitment to delivering the best experience for customers and creating a positive impact for the communities we serve.
“With this push, we’re set on winning more shoppers across the nation and claiming an even bigger share of the market.” Lidl is currently Britain’s sixth-largest grocery chain, according to experts at Worldpanel, after making the biggest market share gains in the sector in recent months.
Experts believe Lidl could overtake rival Morrisons, which is currently in fifth place, in the coming months if its current momentum continues. It has been confirmed that Laindon in Basildon is set to get its own Lidl, with the store scheduled to open within the next two months.
The Lidl is part of plans for the Laindon Centre site, off High Road, Laindon. These plans include more than 205 new homes, 15 shops, an option for an improved medical centre, and a Sanctuary office.
There will also be new public open spaces with a new location for the Laindon War Memorial. Construction for the area began last September.