Above: What the revamped Sainsbury’s store would look like from the car park. Image courtesy Sainsbury’s.
Lancaster City Council has granted planning permission for an extension to Sainsbury’s Cable Street store, subject to confirmation by planning officers, which will bring new jobs to the store.
The plans include the addition of a new mezzanine level customer restaurant and small infill extensions to the front and rear of the store, along with improvements to the store interior and a reconfigured car park.
Sainsbury’s says the extension will create 13,000 sq ft of extra sales space and around 25 new full and part time jobs.
“Sainsbury’s is delighted with the Council’s decision to approve our plans to extend the Lancaster store,” said Jo Try, Sainsbury’s regional development executive. “It’s a very popular, city centre store, and the extra space should mean an enhanced shopping experience for our customers as well as creating full and part-time jobs for local people.”
Prior to the planning application being submitted, a public consultation was held including an exhibition of the plans in store. Feedback forms were made available, with 95% of respondents in favour of the proposals.
“We’re pleased that the vast majority of respondents were in favour of the extension,” Jo commented.
“Our regular customers should benefit from an improved restaurant and wider variety of goods in store and the 25 extra jobs will benefit the local community.”
The store will remain open throughout construction.
Earlier today, Sainsbury’s, which celebrates its 140th anniversary this month, announced an 11 per cent rise in profits of £543million, which will see the company’s 120,000 staff share a bonus pot of £60 million, up from last year’s £47 million payout. In addition to its Lancaster extension and the new store in Morecambe, the company has also anounced plans for 50 new ‘convenience’ stores in 2009/10 and 100 in 2010/11 across the UK.