Supermarket chain Aldi has hinted at progress on its new Balsall Common store, months after being given planning permission.

The discount retailer has announced a £1.6 billion investment in new stores over the next two years.

In its annual trading update last week, the UK's fourth-largest supermarket said it planned to open 80 stores across 2026 and 2027 to "meet the UK's growing demand for affordable groceries". 

Included in this shortlist is the new Balsall Common store on Kenilworth Road.

Following this, an Aldi spokesperson told Nub News: "We're pleased to have received planning permission to bring an Aldi store to Balsall Common and are grateful for the significant local support.

"We hope to begin preliminary site preparations in the coming months and will keep the community updated on developments."

A possible opening date was not provided.

The deputy prime minister rubber-stamped the decision allowing Aldi to build a new store in Balsall Common in February this year

The chain applied in 2021 for the demolition of a vacant former service station on the old Edwins Autos site, to the north of Balsall Common, and construction of the supermarket.

The application featured plans for 93 parking spaces and a cycle shelter providing room for 16 bikes on the Kenilworth Road site.

Aldi was given the go-ahead for the build last October after Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council's planning committee voted unanimously in favour.

Giles Hurley, Chief Executive Officer for Aldi UK and Ireland, said last week: "Shoppers are still finding things difficult and that's why we're staying laser-focused on doing what Aldi does best – offering customers great quality products at unbeatable prices.

"Nobody else is making the same commitment to everyday low prices – no clubs, no gimmicks, no tricks – just prices our customers can trust, and quality they can depend on.

"Since we opened our first UK store more than 35 years ago, we've brought high-quality, affordable groceries to almost 800 towns and cities, but there are hundreds more communities that don't have an Aldi nearby.

"We're more determined than ever to meet that demand, and that's why we're investing a record £1.6bn over the next two years, to bring Aldi prices closer to millions more customers."