German supermarket giant Lidl has earmarked Hadleigh as one of its new sites in a huge expansion plan.

The discount supermarket chain announced plans to open hundreds of new stores in the UK, including 16 in Suffolk with Hadleigh named among them.

Lidl already has 950 sites across the country, but is aiming for that figure to grow to 1,100 by the end of 2025. 

Confirming its huge expansion plans, Lidl has this week released a list of 1,168 locations where it wants to open new stores.

Lidl already has eight stores in Suffolk but the German giant hopes that number will have increased by the time 2025 rolls around. It wants new stores to be in either town centres or edge of centre retail parks.

The locations listed represent only potential sites and Lidl says only a small number will eventually be developed and opened as stores, but it's clear that the supermarket has big plans for Suffolk and it is not the first time Hadleigh has been identified as a potential site. 

There's also a finder's fee to members of the public who can help find sites for the new development with a fee of 1.5% of the total freehold purchase price or 10% of the first year's rent for leaseholds offered.

Ryan McDonnell, Lidl GB chief executive, said: "The last few years have been challenging for everyone, but we've made it clear that we're more committed than ever to ensuring that every single household has access to a Lidl store.

"That's why our focus is firmly on the future as we continue to grow and invest in our infrastructure, while keeping a lookout for more sites and locations across the country."

Here's the full list of locations in Suffolk where Lidl wants to open new stores.

• Bury St Edmunds 
• Bury St Edmunds (east)
• Felixstowe - Langer Road (relocation)
• Ipswich - Handford Road (relocation)
• Halesworth
• Hadleigh
• Ipswich (northwest)
• Ipswich (west)
• Ipswich - Woodbridge/Martlesham
• Lowestoft (north)
• Lowestoft (south)
• Mildenhall
• Newmarket
• Saxmundham
• Stowmarket (relocation)
• Sudbury