Work has begun on a new Co Armagh supermarket development that - once completed - is set to deliver a £25m investment and 300 new retail jobs for the area.

The 42-week project to construct the Tesco Extra store in Craigavon will also provide employment for around 150 construction workers with the Craigavon Mayor and Stormont Assembly member, Alderman Stephen Moutray, on hand for the formal 'sod-cutting' ceremony at Highfield at the end of June.

Trevor Turkington, Chief Executive of Portadown-based Turkington Holdings who are developing the store in partnership with Tesco, (shown here on left, with the MLA and Bernard Owens, Tesco NI's Senior Store Development Manager) said: "The relationship between ourselves and Tesco goes back several years and we are committed to delivering a first class build on time and within budget.

"This important project at Marlborough Retail Park will require around 150 construction workers. There is no doubt this is good news for the area in these challenging economic times."

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He told the MLA that the new store, which is being built on the vacant site adjacent to B&Q, will include an 80,000sq ft sales area and will be the fifth Tesco Extra store in Northern Ireland.

Tesco Corporate Affairs Manager for Northern Ireland, Colin Hampsey, said the store would offer people a much wider range of food and a greater variety of product lines than are currently available in the area.

"Customer feedback has shown us that the Extra format is already extremely popular as it provides the wide range of food, non-food and services they expect from a larger Tesco store.

"We are also examining the possibility of a number of new services including a Tesco Direct catalogue facility, a digital help desk with experts on hand to provide assistance and an opticians.

"This major investment is good for shoppers and local ratepayers. Not only will it increase consumer choice, but it will generate significant rates' income for the local council, and a significant all-round boost for the local economy," he said.

He also noted that, as part of Tesco's commitment to becoming a zero carbon business by 2050, this new store would incorporate a number of environmentally friendly initiatives.

The display cabinets have been redesigned to be more energy efficient and the in-store ovens will only use half the energy for baking bread than older models.

Rainwater is also collected or 'harvested' and is then used to flush the toilets in the staff and customer areas.

The store will be timber-cladded, enhanced glazing to make use of more natural light, roof lights to allow more light in and reduce power consumption as well as small wind turbines and LED lighting.

The car parking will be at street level with the shop above meaning that much of the free car park for 760 vehicles will be protected from the elements. In addition there will be dedicated spaces for parents with young children and those with disabilities.

(BMcC/GK)