Plans for a long-awaited relief road are to be submitted with proposals to build up to 160 homes, a supermarket and a nursery off Albert Road.

The proposals may also address the constant flooding battle residents face during heavy rain and it means an Aldi could be coming to Deal after all.

Dover District Council’s planning department has received details from Goddard Planning Consultancy and officers have been helping them prepare for the process with KCC.

The site includes land formerly occupied by Park Avenue Motors, on the cusp of the built-up North Deal and Middle Deal wards.

"It's consistent with the ambitions for the area" - Paul Watkins, leader of DDC

District council leader Paul Watkins said: “It’s an opportunity to deliver some business/commercial land allied to Minter’s Yard.

“We will await the formal application to see the merits and gauge public opinion.

He said it is “consistent with the ambitions for the area within the local plan.”

Deal and Dover MP Charlie Elphicke said: “There has been a lot of development in North Deal and Middle Deal in recent years.

“The roads are under great pressure. I’m concerned about further development being built before roads.

The district council received a letter from the consultancy firm in November detailing the plans for 160 homes, a 12,000 sq ft supermarket, a 20,000 sq ft commercial space and a 4,000 sq ft nursery.

Included was a plan showing the area concerned.

The letter stated: “The essential element of the proposal is a new relief road which will greatly assist traffic flows in this part of Deal.

“It will also encourage more sustainable travel including walking and cycling, bus and train.”

It goes on to explain more about flooding.

“While it lies within Flood Zone 3, the proposal will incorporate steps to reduce to an acceptable level flood risk to future occupiers and deal with the issue of flood storage.

“The scheme is substantial but is not of more than local importance.”

In recent weeks, the Mercury has been pressing Aldi to ascertain whether it is planning to come to Deal because its website states it is looking for premises in the area.

Aldi were not able to respond to our questions before the Mercury went to press.