Aldi looks likely to get the go-ahead for a new supermarket in Grantham later this month - but with a 'radically altered' exterior design compared to the original proposal.

The application for the 1,821m2 food store with parking for 155 shoppers, on the corner of Harlaxton Road and Trent Road, is recommended for approval when it goes before South Kesteven District Council planning committee on Wednesday, 22 July.

The new supermarket, which represents an investment of £6.9m in the town, would employ around 30 staff and replace the retailer's existing store in South Parade.

The new food store would have a customer access road off Trent Road and service access off Harlaxton Road. Two new pedestrian routes would be created off Harlaxton Road and another along the route of the new customer access road.

The plan is for 155 car parking spaces for shoppers and five for staff parking at the front of the store, with nine disabled spaces and seven reserved for parents with young children. Electric charging points would also be installed.

A report to the committee states: "The appearance and general design of the development proposed is considered acceptable and is radically altered.

"The proposal...has been developed in a relatively contemporary style, with a mixed palette of materials.

"The scheme has now been designed to improve the local character and seeks to establish a strong sense of place and reflects the strong design approach advocated by the district council's Design Pad."

Key changes include:

• a 'more attractive' diverse range of external materials including more windows

• structural hedging and planting and boundary treatment to 'help break up the impact of the car park'

• a feature landscape planter at the gateway pedestrian entrance to the site replacing a freestanding totem advertising sign

"It will form a building with some strong visual interest on a prominent corner.

"The brise soleil adds a feature to break up the building and introduces a degree of articulation to the building plane.

"It is concluded that the proposal as revised has been largely designed to fit well into its surrounding context," adds the report.

The store would open from 8am to 10pm on Monday to Saturdays - including public holidays - and 10am to 6pm on Sunday.