A number of retailers eye up Newtown

A number of national shopping and services chains are understood to be looking at sites in Newtown.

Aldi has already said it is still looking for a site to open a supermarket in the town after discussions to purchase land at the St Giles Golf Course failed to reach a conclusion.

The company is understood to be looking at another site on the periphery of the town, close to the bypass.

MyNewtown understands that a number of other national retail chains have also been considering options to open sites in the town centre, although it is not known how serious they have been to acquiring existing sites or developing land.

Last week local building company EvaBuild began work refurbishing part of the Ladywell Shopping Centre that used to have the Co-Op store in it. The company is investing £500,000 in the work and said it was talking to a potential tenant.

It comes as the town's bypass is expected to be opened within the next two weeks.

The improved accessibility and less congestion is one reason why retailers and others believe Newtown could return to a regional shopping destination as it used to be.