MORE than 100 jobs are to be created in Darwen after council officials gave Sainsburys the go-ahead to build a supermarket in a prime town centre location.

The news is a major boost for the town and Blackburn with Darwen Council is hoping that the flagship supermarket will attract new shoppers and retailers to the area. Members of the policy and resources committee gave Sainsburys the green light after carefully considering two proposals from two major chains to develop the Redearth Road site.

Councillor leader Malcolm Doherty said: "The supermarket development is seen as a priority for regenerating Darwen town centre."

Councillor Dave Harling, chairman of the property sub-committee, added: "Our primary concern is to ensure that Darwen town centre benefits from the scheme. Our aim was to ensure that the town has a quality shopping facility for the people of the borough and a facility which attracts shoppers and encourages them to use other businesses in the town centre."

A planning application will be submitted to the council at the end of May for the 20,000 sq ft site.

She said: "We are delighted to have the opportunity to provide Darwen with a quality food store and we are sure that it will be a major boost for the retail facilities in the town."

"The members carefully considered the trading impact, financial implications and viability of both schemes before deciding which company should be granted the lease to develop the site."

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