Residents in Northampton will soon have more shopping choice after plans for two new supermarkets in the town were given the green light.
Members of Northampton Borough Council’s planning committee gave their approval for Waitrose to construct a store in Wootton, while also permitting a former Royal Mail sorting office in Semilong to be converted into a shop, the Northampton Chronicle and Echo reports.
Councillor Michael Hill told the committee that the people of Wootton and Hardingstone had offered overwhelming support for the Waitrose proposals.
He stated: “There’s a crying need for a supermarket in this area of town.”
It is hoped the opening of the new Waitrose – which currently employs more than 37,000 people – will create 120 new jobs for the area, while discussions are being held with a number of supermarket chains over the conversion of the former Royal Mail site.
Charles Millest of Royal Mail stated: “We talk regularly with all food store companies and would expect a significant amount of interest.”
The discussions should lead to a supermarket firm taking advantage of the venue after Tesco’s recent shock decision to abandon its plans to transform the building.
