Plans to open a Sainsbury’s store in Perth city centre have been welcomed by the leader of Perth and Kinross Council, and by the Perthshire Chamber of Commerce.
The store, which would create around 25 jobs, is currently a vacant unit situated at 199-205 High Street.
Councillor Ian Miller, leader of Perth and Kinross Council, described the Sainsbury’s announcement as ”exciting news” for Perth.
”I very much welcome the major boost this will give to Perth High Street, our main shopping street,” he said. ”It will bring a new vibrancy to that part of the street by increasing footfall in the area and shows that Perth’s newly restored status as a city is leading to increasing interest from major retailers.”
He continued: ”The fact that Sainsbury’s are opening this store in Perth is positive news and shows that our city centre continues to attract investment during the current economic downturn.”
The announcement of the proposed new store was also hailed by Vicki Unite, the chief executive of Perthshire Chamber of Commerce.
She said: ”Perthshire Chamber of Commerce has been working hard to attract new businesses into the city, so we are delighted that Sainsbury’s have secured the unit on the High Street.
”We hope that Sainsbury’s investment in our city encourages more high quality stores to Perth.”
Christian Wakelin, Sainsbury’s senior acquisition manager, said the move ”underlines” the firm’s commitment to Perth and would ”complement” the plan to build a supermarket at the old Perth Auction Mart.
Sainsbury’s has applied for an off-sales licence to allow it to sell alcohol at the planned High Street store.