German discount supermarket Aldi has so far applied for planning permission to build 60,000 square metres, or 73%, of all UK supermarket warehouse space this year, according to research group Barbour ABI.

The news reflects the supermarket’s expansion plans, which last year saw it open 94% of all supermarket warehouse space in the country. Aldi, which has around 560 stores, plans to build an estate of 1,000 stores by 2022.

In contrast other major supermarkets are cutting back on new store building plans. Having invested heavily in home deliveries, they have seen the move back-fire and hit the value of their in-store sales.