A MAJOR refurbishment of an Abingdon retail park, including plans for a new Aldi supermarket, has moved another step closer.

More detailed designs for the scheme at Fairacres Retail Park, off Marcham Road, have been submitted for approval to Vale of White Horse District Council planning department on behalf of owners Mays Properties Ltd.

It marks the second phase of redevelopment at the site, following work done in 2009 which included re-cladding and the building of a new unit.

Planning permission was granted in 2016 to knock down four units, including Vineys, AHF and Topps Tiles, to create a new terrace of seven retail units. This was later revised down to five, with one of these set to house a Marks and Spencer Foodhall.

In December, however, the family-run property firm sought to vary outline planning permission after the deal was deemed 'commercially unviable'.

Instead, the property firm revealed it had agreed a deal with supermarket chain Aldi and was subsequently granted permission for an increased unit to house the foodstore in March.

In documents submitted with the latest application, Ridge Property and Construction Consultants, working on behalf of Mays, stated: "The development described in this application will raise the aesthetic and performance of the eastern half of the site into line with the completed western half of the site, in turn transforming the retail park into a high quality and homogenous retail park."

A decision is expected by July 20.