Sainsbury's set sights on Ottery St Mary

Published: 10:35 AM December 12, 2008 Updated: 10:17 PM February 16, 2021

SAINSBURY S has announced plans to open a store in Ottery St Mary, sparking a supermarket giant tug-of-war over the town.

SAINSBURY'S has announced plans to open a store in Ottery St Mary, sparking a supermarket giant tug-of-war over the town.

Proposal for a 20,000 sq ft store in Hind Street would also see the adjacent East Devon District Council car park snapped up and doubled in size to provide free parking for shoppers who want to visit the store and other town centre outlets.

The news comes just days after Tesco displayed its vision for a 10,000 sq ft "eco convenience store" on part of the town's vacant factory site having paid nearly £3 million for the land in February.

Sainsbury's officials met with Ottery town council last Thursday to reveal the supermarket's intention to submit a planning application for its town-centre proposal.

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Jamie Baker, Sainsbury's regional development executive, said: "We hope to submit plans for a town-centre store that will stock enough products to cater for a weekly shop, with free parking and in a location that will make it easier for shoppers to support Ottery's independent traders as well.

"We plan to speak to representatives from other local groups during the next few weeks before holding an exhibition setting out our proposal in more detail to local residents in the New Year.