Aldi is pushing on with its plans for a store in the Stewartry.
The German firm unveiled details of its proposed £6.3 million development on Oakwell Road in Castle Douglas in January.
The vast majority of people who responded to a public consultation backed the idea of a store and the supermarket giant has now lodged a planning application with the council.
Regional managing director for Aldi in Scotland, Richard Holloway, said: “We are delighted with the positive feedback received from local residents during our recent consultation in relation to our proposed store at Oakwell Road in Castle Douglas.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who took the time to take part in our public consultation and those that have engaged with us throughout the process.
“We have reviewed the feedback in detail and have now submitted a planning application to Dumfries and Galloway Council.
“We will continue to engage with and update the local community and stakeholders as we progress our plans.”
Aldi currently has four stores in Dumfries and Galloway – two in Dumfries, one in Newton Stewart and one in Annan.
It hopes that the new store, which would go on a site currently leased to Castle Douglas Garden Centre and Coffee Shop, could be open by Christmas 2023 and create up to 35 new jobs.
There were 345 responses to its public consultation, with more than 2,000 people visiting a website containing details of the application.
The firm claims 92 per cent of people who responded were in favour of the idea, although documents lodged with the council revealed there were also “a number of concerns”.
Aldi believe it would not be “significantly adverse” and the fact shoppers would no longer have to head to Dumfries for one of its stores could “have a positive impact” as people could combine a supermarket trip with a visit to King Street.
