WORK is now underway on the new Sainsbury’s foodstore in Whitchurch, which will create up to 250 jobs.
Sainsbury’s contractors have begun working on the 30,000sq ft supermarket, which is set to open towards the end of 2012.
The store, off London Road, will provide a wide range of food products and a limited range of non-food items. It will have fresh food counters, a customer cafe and customer facilities, including disabled and parent/child toilets.
There will also be cycle hoops installed and over 300 car parking spaces. The site will include a recycling centre.
The wider development of the site will also see Sainsbury’s restore the two listed buildings there, including the existing ice house. Sainsbury’s aim to protect landscaping where possible, with new trees and plants added at the end of the programme.
A Sainsbury’s spokesman said that local residents can rest assured that contractors will be working to a strict code of conduct and that disruption will be kept to an absolute minimum at all times.
Developers say they will keep people updated on the programme of works throughout the entire development, but any questions can be put to Richard Harris on Sainsbury’s freephone 0800 975 5299.
Sainsbury’s Project Manager, Gary Mudge said: “We’re delighted to be starting work on the new store in Whitchurch. The development will improve the shopping offer in the town, whilst creating flexible full and part-time jobs for local residents.”