DISCOUNT supermarket giant Lidl is the latest big name to announce it is heading for Bolton and bringing with it 500 new jobs for local people.

The German firm has bought a large plot at the flagship Logistics North employment hub in Over Hulton where it plans to build a new regional distribution facility.

The £22.5 million purchase from site owners Harworth makes Lidl the latest in a long line of major international companies to set up shop at the former Cutacre mining site near Junction 4 of the M61, including fellow German food giant Aldi, missile manufacturer MBDA and mining group Joy Global.

Lidl UK will now work with Bolton Council to develop its plans for the site — with a planning application expected to be submitted later in the year.

Adrienne Howells, Lidl UK’s head of warehouse expansion, said: “With more British customers choosing Lidl as their family supermarket we are focused on the sustainable growth of our business.

“Once again we are delighted to reveal plans for another Lidl distribution centre in Great Britain, bringing investment to Bolton, new jobs and additional support to our existing and future stores in the north of England.”

The announcement comes just weeks after The Bolton News revealed that a mystery international company had agreed to launch a base at Logistics North and create 1,200 jobs. It is understood the identity of that firm will be revealed soon.

Cllr Cliff Morris, Leader of Bolton Council, said the Lidl UK announcement is another big boost for Business in Bolton.

He said: “This is great news for Bolton as another well-known name signs up to Logistics North.

“Through this latest multi-million pound investment we are pleased to have secured 500 new jobs in addition to the 1,200 already employed on the site.

“We remain committed to continuing to work with all our partners to bring more tenants jobs and investment to the site in the near future.”

Cllr Morris pointed out that forthcoming changes to the way the Government will fund local authorities means that councils like Bolton will soon rely entirely on the business rates and council tax generated in the borough to fund services.

He added: “This is all good news for those business rates which, along with council tax, is what Bolton will be running on.

“This is how we will pay for those vital services and how we will look after vulnerable people in the borough.

“For that reason its essential that we work to bring big businesses and jobs to the town and show that Bolton is open for business.”

Cllr Morris and Harworth both hinted that other major names are set to announce that they will too make a new home at Logistics North in the coming weeks and months.

Phil Wilson, managing director of capital growth at Harworth Group plc, said: “Logistics North has established itself as one of the North of England’s leading distribution locations and we are naturally delighted to welcome a leading company like Lidl to Logistics North.

“Our extensive work in both remediating the site and master planning it for employment uses continues to yield results for both Harworth and the site’s occupiers. We look forward to welcoming further occupiers to the site in 2017.”