SCORES of jobs are in the offing as a retail giant looks to gain a foothold on the Isle of Wight.

Discount food retailer Aldi is in discussions with the Island's council over creating stores at sites in Freshwater, Ventnor, Sandown, Shanklin and East Cowes, generating at least 100 jobs.

A meeting of the council's executive this week heard that Aldi Stores Ltd wanted to expand its retail business to include the Island, in a £15m investment.

In a report to the executive, director of corporate and environment services, Mike Fisher, said Aldi had acquired property rights to the sites and wanted to buy adjoining council-owned land to make the schemes work.

Aldi was originally founded in Germany and now has stores throughout Europe, including the UK, where its headquarters are at Swindon.

Mr Fisher said the company's stores generally have a floor area of around 1,000 sq metres on one floor, with parking nearby.

The Island sites it wants to develop are in High Street, Ventnor; Avenue Road, Freshwater; Orchardleigh Road, Shanklin; Fort Street, Sandown and Well Street, East Cowes.

Mr Fisher said: "All the sites put forward by Aldi will affect existing local car parking facilities currently owned and operated by the council.

"While in general the number of spaces would seem to be maintained or increased, the council will need to take a long-term view as to the parking requirement and policy implementation for these towns."

Altogether for the five sites, Aldi is proposing 5,000 sq metres of development, with around 450 replacement parking spaces.

Mr Fisher said most of the sites would require the clearance of existing buildings to make way for new buildings, and would be the subject of planning applications.

Councillors agreed to enter detailed talks with Aldi over the grant of a contract to acquire the council's property, but subject to detailed conditions concerning planning permission, the timetable and other details.

Aldi property director Alex Potocki confirmed that the company hoped its stores would create at least 100 new jobs.

He said they would also support employment in sectors such as cleaning and maintenance.

They would also source local produce where possible.