A supermarket war is brewing.

Morrisons has lodged a "strong objection" against plans for a "new and improved" Aldi store to be built opposite Neats Court Retail Park in Queenborough, Sheppey - just yards away from its regional distribution centre.

It comes a few months after the German-owned budget chain submitted a full planning application to Swale council for a new store.

The firm said it would replace its existing shop in Millennium Way, Sheerness.

At the time, Aldi said the existing store was dated, having opened in 2005, and was 23% smaller than its newest stores.

“The store no longer reflects the company’s latest and most up-to-date operational requirements,” it said.

However, Morrisons says the proposed relocation of the Aldi store to Neats Court - which already has a Morrisons and an Iceland, is easily accessible by road and provides a mass of free parking - would "negate the need" to visit Sheerness.

A spokesman for Peacock and Smith, which is acting on behalf of Morrisons, said: "It would divert a significant number of trips, footfall, expenditure and turnover from the Sheerness town centre to Neats Court and consequently erode the attraction of the centre at a time of economic uncertainty."

It also said Aldi had not submitted a "comprehensive retail impact assessment" nor offered any "meaningful justification" of the retail impact on Sheerness town centre.

“We strongly request the proposed development is refused,” the spokesman added.

Aldi anticipates the new store would open in 2021, if the proposals are approved by Swale.

Brian Spoor, Sheerness Town Council vice-chairman, said during meetings with Aldi he suggested it kept the Sheerness store open.

"Iceland has kept its Sheerness store open even though it has one at Neats Court and it’s made no difference to the takings in Sheerness - why can't Aldi do the same?

"I don’t blame Aldi for wanting to have more stores but I’m very sorry for the people of Sheerness who won’t be able to get to the new store."

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