Supermarket chain Sainsbury’s has revealed plans for a new supermarket to open in Carlisle, costing between £16million and £20million and in the process creating extra 250 jobs .
The store is scheduled to open by Christmas 2007, but problems could occur from the Carlisle City Council, which is likely to refuse planning consent for the 77,000sq ft store.
Sainsbury’s acquisitions manager, Paul Miller said, “This is a great opportunity for us, with Carlisle being the only English city where we do not have a store.”
“This new store will provide 250 jobs and a considerable financial investment .”
Cumbria currently has only one Sainsbury store open at Cockermouth, but has other plans to open a store in Penrith by 2010 as well as the new Carlisle supermarket.
Eric Martlew, Carlisle’s MP, has criticised previously Tesco’s plans for a new store to open on the Viaduct Estate, saying it would cause congestion problems. The MP also has concerns about the new Sainsbury’s store.
“A Sainsbury’s will create more competition and is long overdue.”
“But I have doubts about the site. It could create traffic problems. The store should be on the west side of the city,” Mr Martlew said.
The Sainsbury’s chain the country’s third largest supermarket retailer after Tesco and Asda.
Last month it reported rising half year profits of £194million, on sales of £9.5billion.
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