Sainsbury’s latest store opening in Scotland took place in Prestwick, South Ayrshire yesterday. The 45,000 sq ft store was opened by Chris Templeman, Sainsbury’s Head of Property for the North and Scotland and Council Provost, Winifred Sloan. The store has created 245 jobs for Prestwick, making Sainsbury’s the largest new employer in Prestwick for many years. Of the 245 people who found jobs with Sainsbury’s, 59 had been previously unemployed. The store has been built on the site of the former ‘Centrum’ ice rink, bringing a Brownfield site back into employment use. In addition to the store, Sainsbury’s has also invested in helping improve facilities for the adjacent Kingcase Primary School.
PPS carried out a successful consultation exercise in the Spring of 2008, and the store won unanimous planning approval in June 2009, despite local opposition from among others the local MP. The store is the latest opening in Scotland for Sainsbury’s and follows on from the successful launch of Sainsbury’s new Strathaven store earlier this year.
Sainsbury’s new stores, extensions and convenience developments in Scotland are creating 1,300 new jobs in Scotland, making the company the biggest private investor in the country this year, an investment in Scotland that was specifically welcomed by First Minister Alex Salmond. Prestwick is another example of the successful partnership between Sainsbury’s and PPS.
Written by Donald Anderson