Above: What the revamped Sainsbury’s store would look like from the car park. Image courtesy Sainsbury’s.
(Updated 23/1/09): Sainsbury’s has begun a public consultation event to ask for views on a proposed extension to their Cable Street store in Lancaster which the supermarket chains says could bring over 20 new jobs, as well as a better range of goods.
The plans have been released in the week that the chain has also announced it intends to open a new supermarket in Morecambe, after completing a deal to buy Morecambe FC’s Christie Park in a multi-million pound deal.
Designs for the proposed extension to the Lancaster store will be on display in the entrance area to the store where people can view the plans this week. Feedback forms are also available.
The proposals would see a small extension to the rear of the store and a two-storey extension to part of the shopfront to create around 13,000 sq ft of extra sales space, a new customer restaurant on a new mezzanine floor and around 25 new full and part time jobs.
The Lancaster Guardian reported the new 40,000 sq foot Sainsbury’s in Morecambe, scheduled to open in spring 2011, is expected to create around 350 permanent jobs. The deal means Morecambe FC can now start work on their brand new stadium in Westgate.
Pictured above is a design for the new look store, as viewed from the existing car park. The new store entrance lobby can be seen underneath the ‘Sainsbury’s’ sign to the left of the elevation along with the additional storey to provide the mezzanine floor at the right hand end of the image.
Sainsbury’s Lancaster store has been “over trading” for several years, meaning it is unable to keep up with demand from customers. Recent changes, which have introduced more non food items have also resulted in narrower aisles which are difficult to negotiate at busy times.
“Customers familiar with the Cable Street store will know that the store’s current size limits Sainsbury’s ability to offer a full product range,” commented Jo Try who is Regional Development Executive at Sainsbury’s. “In addition, the store is in need of general upgrading and improving.
“To address this, and as part of an upgrading programme, Sainsbury’s is considering extending the store.
“A planning application has not yet been submitted and before it is, we want to hear the views of the local community and our customers.”
The proposed store extension would enable Sainsbury’s to stock a wider range of food and non-food products for existing customers.
“Sainsbury’s is still a food first retailer and a store extension would allow us to provide
our loyal customers with an even better range of food products,” Jo continues. “The extension would also let us increase our non-food offer within the store.”
Sainsbury’s is one of the oldest supermarkets in Lancaster, built on the site of the city’s old railway marshalling yards. Its original building was opposed by supporters of the New Planet City youth centre run by the late Geoff Woodhead which operated from the old railway shed and, after planning permission was granted and the store built, there was some criticism of the supermarket chain after it failed to retain housing on the site per its granted planning permission.
• The plans will be available in the store for people to view this week. Anyone wanting more information on the proposals should contact Scott Royal on 0113 246 9243.
• Sainbury’s Lancaster on Sainsbury’s web site
Story Updated 20/1/09