Aldi has announced plans to open 24 new supermarkets across the UK, with 16 locations set to open in the coming months and eight further sites under planning consideration. The budget retailer, now the UK's fourth-largest supermarket after overtaking Morrisons, continues its rapid expansion to meet growing demand for affordable groceries.
Confirmed Openings for 2026
Aldi has confirmed 16 new stores that will open during 2026. These include Hattersley in Greater Manchester, Newport on the Isle of Wight, Bishops Cleeve in Cheltenham, Newport in South Wales, Orpington and Hoxton in London, Ashford in Kent, Watford, Rayleigh in Essex, Balsall Common in the West Midlands, Marble Arch in London, Malton in North Yorkshire, Port Talbot in Wales, Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands, Wigan in Greater Manchester, and Sudbury in Suffolk.
Planning Applications Submitted
In addition to the confirmed openings, Aldi has submitted planning applications for eight further sites. These include a proposed £7 million branch at Wirral Waters in Seacombe, Merseyside. Other locations with pending applications are Thames Ditton in Surrey, Keynsham in Somerset, Melksham in Wiltshire, Devizes in Wiltshire, Plymouth in Devon, Eastfield in North Yorkshire, and St Mellons in Cardiff.
Investment and Impact
Jonathan Neale, managing director of national real estate at Aldi UK, said: "Our £370m investment in new stores this year will help us bring Aldi’s unbeatable value to even more communities, supporting local economies through our industry-leading pay for colleagues." The retailer frequently tops lists of the UK's cheapest supermarkets and has been expanding steadily in recent years.
Details of Key Planning Applications
In Thames Ditton, Surrey, plans to build an Aldi on the former site of a car dealership were approved in March. In Keynsham, Somerset, plans were recently approved by Bath and North East Somerset Council’s planning committee. Melksham in Wiltshire has seen a recent submission for a store at the Farmers Roundabout off Bradford Road, though flooding concerns have been raised. In Seacombe, Merseyside, Aldi has unveiled plans for a new £7m store and submitted a planning application to Wirral Council. Devizes, Wiltshire, has a proposal for a new store and drive-thru coffee shop at The Bike School on London Road. Plymouth, Devon, has a plan for a supermarket on land at Plymstock, where a new community of 1,684 homes is being built. Eastfield, North Yorkshire, features a proposed food store with a net sales area of 1,228 sqm and a customer car park. In St Mellons, Cardiff, Robert Hitchins Limited, in partnership with Aldi, is proposing a new food store on land at Plot A, Wern Fawr Lane.
Continued Growth
Aldi's expansion reflects its success in attracting cost-conscious shoppers. The retailer's commitment to low prices and quality has driven its rise to become the fourth-largest supermarket in the UK, surpassing Morrisons. With a £370m investment in new stores this year, Aldi aims to bring its value to even more communities across the country.
