Store expansion will bring 30 jobs

Oct 2 2008 by Graham Fraser, Hamilton Advertiser

THIRTY jobs could be created in Hamilton after supermarket giant Sainsbury’s announced a planned expansion of its Retail Park store.

Christian Wakelin, development executive for Sainsbury’s, told the Advertiser: “Sainsbury’s is investing in the Hamilton store to expand the range of shopping opportunities for the local community.

“This expansion will help secure up to 30 additional jobs as well as helping support nearly 200 existing jobs at our local store.

“Despite the economic uncertainties, Sainsbury’s is pressing ahead with our investment programme in Scotland.

“We remain committed to improving the quality of our shops and the range of goods for sale.”

The move has been welcomed by Douglas Miller, chief executive of Lanarkshire Chamber of Commerce.

He said: “I think it is good news that a major retailer is considering a big investment in Hamilton.

“Far too often we hear gloomy reports of businesses closing down or downsizing.

“It is fantastic that a major retailer is thinking about this development in Hamilton.”

The application for the Sainsbury extension is at an early stage, but it is likely the proposal will go in front of the council’s planning committee in the near future.

The application is for an expansion to take the sales area of the store from just over 29,000 square feet to 59,000sq ft, Mr Wakelin added.

This will be achieved through the reorganisation of the store internally and the addition of the extension.

The application has been submitted and is currently being considered by South Lanarkshire Council.

A spokesperson for the council confirmed: “We have received an application for the erection of three extensions to the existing Sainsbury’s property at Hamilton Retail Park.

“This would amount to an extra 2442 square metres of floorspace.

“The extension to the front of the building extends to 232sq metres.

“The extension to the side would be situated between the existing supermarket and the adjacent unit, and this extends to 724sq metres and the extension to the rear amounts to 1486sq metres.

“The application is still currently being assessed.”