By Julian Whittle

Last updated at 12:28, Monday, 18 June 2012

Tesco is to revamp its dated 1970s supermarket in Victoria Viaduct in Carlisle.

Tesco

And the chain says it still hopes to build a new store in the city, probably at Morton.

Work on the Victoria Viaduct refurbishment is expected to begin in August and will last several weeks.

It is one of 430 Tescos to receive a makeover in 2012-13 as the company invests £1bn to reverse declining sales.

The aim is to improve the look and feel of stores through warmer colours, better lighting, improved sight lines and clearer signage.

There will be increased emphasis on fresh food, beers, wines and spirits.

Tesco says its plans for the Victoria Viaduct store are at an early stage.

There is no information as to whether it will close during the revamp or if jobs will be created although, nationally, Tesco expects to recruit 8,000 additional staff.

The Viaduct store employs around 100 workers.

Doug Wilson, corporate affairs manager for Tesco, said: “We are looking at plans to refresh our store in Carlisle city centre.

“There are no firm dates for this work as we are yet to finalise the details.

“The refresh is part of our ongoing investment in our stores across the UK to improve and update the current offer to our customers.”

He added: “This work does not alter our plans to expand the Tesco offer in Carlisle.”

Tesco won planning consent for a 40,000sq ft superstore in Viaduct Estate following a public inquiry in 2007.

That store would have replaced the Victoria Viaduct branch.

But work has was put on hold while Tesco bid for a bigger site, owned by the city council, at Morton.

Six supermarket chains, including Tesco, have expressed interest in the 16-acre plot in Wigton Road, which has outline planning consent for an 88,000sq ft store and a filling station. A selection process is underway.

Broadcaster David Jacobs opened the Victoria Viaduct Tesco in October 1971.

It cost £308,000 and was built on the site of the Viaduct Hotel, a former temperance hotel, that was demolished the year before.

A second Tesco in Carlisle, at Rosehill, opened in 1994.

First published at 11:30, Monday, 18 June 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk