Morrisons is the latest to announce plans for a supermarket in Stroud

The proposal for a medium-sized outlet at the Stroud Metal Company site in Dudbridge Road - a stone’s throw from Sainsbury’s - is the third supermarket development to be announced for the town in four months.

Robin Langford, of Morrisons, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Morrisons and for Stroud.”

Morrisons says the new store would create 300 jobs.

There are also plans for an ASDA in Lightpill and another supermarket at Ryeford.

Morrisons has worked on the proposal in partnership with the metal works company, which would relocate to a new site in Stonehouse.

“Before we submit a planning application to Stroud District Council we want to engage with the community and hear what local residents think of our plans," added Mr Langford, development executive at Morrisons.

“Your comments are important to us and will help us make sure we deliver the best fit for Stroud.”

Matthew Large, managing director of Stroud Metal Company, said: “We have outgrown our existing factory in Dudbridge Road which no longer adequately meets our needs.

“This partnership with Morrisons will give us the new facilities we need to expand our product range and grow our business, securing the future of highly skilled manufacturing jobs in Stroud.”

Morrisons, which already has a store in George Street, Nailsworth, is the most recent developer to announce plans to build a supermarket in Stroud.

Plans for an unknown supermarket at a brownfield site near the Ryeford junction on the Ebley bypass are going to be discussed at Stroud District Council’s development control committee on Tuesday, November 12.

Meanwhile, plans for an ASDA on Daniels Industrial Estate in Bath Road, Lightpill are due to be published in full next week following a public consultation in July.

A spokesman for campaign group Stroud Against Supermarket Saturation said: “Stroud town centre needs all the help it can get and any further out of town supermarkets risk strangling Stroud completely.

“We have been through this before with Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose when the town centre suffered badly and shops shut.

“Both Mary Portas and Bill Grimsey recognise the damage out of town supermarkets do by reducing local retail provision and choice.”

“We don’t want to see Stroud on the critical list again so we are asking people to join Stroud Against Supermarket Saturation and say ‘no thanks’ to anymore out of town superstores.

“We are urging those who are against the plans to write to their local councillors and MP Neil Carmichael and sign our petition to say no to future supermarket developments.”

To sign SASS’s petition go to http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/stop-further-out-of-town-supermarket-developments-in-stroud.