A new supermarket is set to be built – creating and safeguarding more than 100 jobs.

Aldi’s plans for a store, on land at Silsden, have been hailed as a major boost to the town’s economy.

Town and district councillors have welcomed the project’s capacity to create much-needed new employment while protecting existing jobs.

A successful planning application could see up to 25 people being employed at the 1,535 square metre store itself.

And income from selling the site to Aldi would safeguard about 80 jobs at Silsden conveyor and transmission firm Habasit UK.

The company has long wanted to modernise its existing factory at Habegger House in Keighley Road in order to remain competitive.

Selling a parcel of adjoining land for the supermarket would generate cash for Habasit to carry out this much-needed regeneration.

The planning statement for the project states: “The development would allow Habasit to improve its operational efficiency, enabling it to remain in Silsden and retain its workforce.

“This can only be achieved through a significant level of investment, to be realised by the sale of part of its site.”

The Aldi project is the first firm proposal for a supermarket following more than a year of rumours among Silsden residents and politicians.

Tesco was among national supermarket chains investigating the viability of moving into Silsden.

The planning application for the Keighley Road site has been submitted to Bradford Council jointly by Habasit UK and Pendle Projects Ltd.

The intention is to build a 56-metre long glass-fronted store with 114 car parking spaces and ten cycle spaces.

The “contemporary store design” would be built using locally-sourced materials.

Habasit has also applied to modernise its existing building with over-cladding and new windows. The height of the warehouse would increase by ten metres to provide increased storage space, and the building would operate seven days a week, from 6am to 10pm.

Town and district councillor Andrew Naylor said he was glad the Habasit project was the first Silsden supermarket proposal to reach the planning stage.

He said: “The existing factory isn’t purpose-built – this plan gives them the money to refurbish the factory and rebuild it to meet current standards.

“My fear was that if there was a proposal for another site, Habasit would have to move out of Silsden.”

Chris Atkinson, chairman of Silsden Town Council, said: “We need Habasit to stay in the town, there are 75 or 80 jobs there.

“We need to encourage work. We have to get employment here or we’re just going to be a dormitory town.”

Both councillors believe the new supermarket will benefit Silsden residents by giving them access to cheaper shopping on their doorstep.