Residents have had the chance to comment on two options for plans to build 130 homes, a food store, a children’s nursery and offices at Albert Road, Deal.

The drawings, commissioned by Littlebourne firm Quinn Estates, also include a relief road that will divert the flow of HGVs from Minter’s Yard onto Albert Road - instead of using narrow and populous Southwall Road.

Prospective developer Mark Quinn said he has “future proofed” the plans, leaving space for a potential extension of the road from behind Jewson’s to Sholden - if the local authority decides to build one to alleviate congestion.

The entrepreneur revealed he is in discussions with four supermarkets - one of which is Aldi - who are interested in occupying the space if planning permission is granted. It will measure 15,000 sq feet - and will be slightly smaller than the Co-operative at Park Street, Deal.

Mr Quinn said: “The idea of a supermarket didn’t come from us, it came from looking at newspapers, social networks and speaking to people.”

Another supermarket for Deal is a requirement listed on the district council’s Local Plan, which has worked out planning allocations to take residents through the next 30 years.

The combined development will create 210 jobs at the food store, offices and nursery. The figure includes construction workers.

Two options were presented at Thursday’s exhibition at Deal Town Hall which residents poured over.

The first - and arguably most preferred - shows the nursery and food store located at the entrance to former Park Avenue Motors site on the corner of Albert Road.

The second was less popular because nursery-goers and shoppers would have to traipse through the estate to access them, located almost behind the Builder Centre to the North.

For more details, see next week's East Kent Mercury.