It's all systems go for Sainsbury's superstore plans

The retailer is moving quickly with its intention to return to the town.

Spokeswoman Kirsty Merrills said: "Our application for the proposed store will be submitted before Christmas."

The proposals will be given to Arun District Council for a decision.

They will be for a 55,000sq ft store, the same size as the Sainsbury's at Chichester before its recent extension, an eight-pump petrol station and 600 car-parking spaces.

The first Sainsbury's in Bognor for about 20 years will provide up to 400 full and part-time jobs if it is approved by councillors.

The store is intended to be built on the southern half of the former Lec Refrigeration factory along the A29 Shripney Road.

This has been vacant for four years and has become an increasing eyesore on the prominent location seen by those approaching Bognor by road and rail.

Ms Merrills pledged Sainsbury's was committed to building a store with a high-quality design to reflect the importance of the location.

"We know how important the site is to Bognor and hope to set the scene for the rest of the town-centre regeneration," she stated.

This could include murals or paintings along the sides of the building to enhance its appearance.

Sainsbury's could open the store in 2010 if its proposals are backed by councillors.

The views of the 500 people at least who went along to the first public display of the scheme were firmly behind the company.

The three-day exhibition at the Regis Centre was busy throughout last Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The site is still owned by Lec's former owner, Sime Darby London Ltd. Carolyne Haynes, its spokeswoman, said: "There has been a lot of interest in having Sainsbury's back in Bognor.

"Everyone also wants to see the Lec site sorted out. Getting someone like Sainsbury's on there would be brilliant for everyone."

She added visitors to the exhibition also expressed their support for Asda's proposals further north along the A29.

The planning application being submitted to the district council will be in two parts.

One section will contain the detailed scheme for Sainsbury's on eight acres of land virtually opposite Tesco.

The other part will be in outline form to establish the principle of development on the other 2.45 acres of the site.

This will give three options for the future uses. The proposals will be:

* To retain the existing Widdowson Building (set back from the A29 behind a car showroom) for industrial use and light industry;

* A mixture of an enterprise centre, office space and light industry; and

* An enterprise centre, office space and a trade centre and trade counters.

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