A supermarket chain is remaining tight lipped about rumours it is reviving plans for a distribution centre on the Island.

Aldi has refused to quash speculation that it might be planning to build on land at Neats Court, next to Morrisons and the under construction retail park.

There has been talk this week that the German-owned firm will announce soon that it is planning to invest here.

When asked about its plans for the plot, a company spokesman would only say: “Aldi owns in excess of 30 acres on the Isle of Sheppey and has planning consent for a regional office and distribution centre.

“The massive shift of customers to Aldi from the big four supermarkets means that new distribution centres will be required over the coming years.

“The Sheppey site is one of a number of options available for our expansion plans for the south east.”

Previous plans for a regional headquarters and distribution centre on the site, with a promise of 250 jobs, were scrapped in 2010.

They were originally made in 2007 as part of the £400 million Queenborough and Rushenden Regeneration scheme.

• For more background, see next week's Sheerness Times Guardian