Sainsbury’s confirms new Carlisle store plan
Last updated at 12:07, Wednesday, 07 January 2009
SAINSBURY’S has confirmed it will submit a planning application in the spring to build a supermarket in Carlisle.
Bosses at the retail giant said the city had been at the top of their “wish list”, adding the store could regenerate Caldewgate and Willowholme, where it would be built.
The News & Star exclusively revealed last month that the supermarket chain wanted to put up a store on land bordered by Bridge Lane, Bridge Street and Byron Street.
Councillors responded by saying it was a boost for Carlisle in the midst of the recession and spoke of hopes that it could breathe new life into a tired part of the city.
Now Sainsbury’s has officially confirmed the plan, with company chiefs speaking about their “excitement” at the prospect of making it reality.
Sainsbury’s had previously hoped to build in Currock Road before dropping that proposal last summer, saying there were other sites “better in planning and commercial terms”.
Jo Try, Sainsbury’s regional development executive, said today that the firm had now secured the site it wanted.
“Carlisle has always been top of our wish list for a new Sainsbury’s store,” she added.
“We have been searching for a suitable site in the city since we decided not to progress the Currock Road site.
“Caldewgate is perfect for us. It allows us to create a store with the full Sainsbury’s offer while bringing a currently underused and in places derelict site back into use to help regenerate the area,
“Our team has considerable experience in regeneration projects like this one so we are excited about this scheme.
“However it is still very early days in the development process.
“We will now draw up proposals for the site and consult with residents and businesses to get their input.”
Details of how big the store might be and how many jobs could be created have yet to be confirmed.
The official announcement comes after Asda chiefs last week reaffirmed their ambitions to build a second city store, possibly as big as its current branch at Kingstown.
Tesco, meanwhile, is continuing to pursue its plans for a third city store, although it could be about to drop its plans for a 40,000sq ft store at Viaduct Estate.
NGriffiths@cngroup.co.uk
First published at 11:25, Wednesday, 07 January 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk
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PLEASE, PLEASE come to Carlisle as soon as you can. Having lived many years in and around London Sainsburys was a store that I came to rely on for reasonably priced QUALITY food. Sainsburys are often the first to bring new lines and new tastes to the shelves.I am not sure if the site is right, I feel Rosehill to Brampton have a greater concentration of likely customers.
I really believe that those who oppose thedevelopment of a store in Carlisle just do not know what they are missing. Good Luck
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I feel it would be a great boost to the city sainburys is a great store and would bring jobs to the area and people would not have to travel to the other side of town to go shopping eleavating some of the trafic problems.
Posted by martin on 7 June 2009 at 11:20