Sainsbury's in jobs boost as Whitchurch store approved

Plans for a new Sainsbury's supermarket creating about 250 jobs in Whitchurch have cleared their final hurdle after the retail giant pledged nearly £500,000 to benefit the town.

Developers Terrace Hill, who are working with Sainsbury's on the project, have signed a legal agreement promising to pay £479,764 to Shropshire Council to be spent on enhancing the town.

The cash will be spent on better signage, bus shelters, highways improvements and environmental improvemen-ts over the next five years.

Some of the money will also be used for the upkeep of the Grade II-listed Old Rectory in Claypit Street, which is next to the development site.

It comes after Shropshire Council granted planning permission for the new store in London Road, bringing to an end a long-running saga over plans for a new supermarket in the town.

Shropshire Council today confirmed work can now begin on building the store on land which has been sold to developers by Tom Biggins, Shropshire Council member for Whitchurch North.

The decision to grant planning permission was originally referred to the Department of Communities and Local Government to be ratified. But officials there decided not to 'call in' the application and passed it back to Shirehall, which has now confirmed the plans have passed their final hurdle.

Construction is expected to begin by next summer, with the store opening in 2013.

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