DETAILS of a multi million pound Sainsbury's supermarket in Darwen have been revealed to the public.

The proposed new store is expected to open next spring with the creation of 150 full and part time jobs.

It will have a sales area of over 15,000 sq ft and will sell more than 12,000 product lines - featuring an in-store bakery, a delicatessen and wines and spirits.

There will be parking for about 200 vehicles, with areas for disabled shoppers and parent and child spaces.

An extensive landscaping programme is planned along with improvements to the walkway along the River Darwen - preserving the views of the grade II listed India Mill Chimney. Highway improvements will include new traffic signals close to the site at the junction of Hardman Way and Redearth Road and pedestrian crossings.

The store is subject to full planning permission being given by Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Fiona Thompson, development surveyor at Sainsbury's, said: "Our scheme will help revitalise the town centre, providing additional jobs and clawing back spending that has been lost to Blackburn and Bolton.

"Our plans meet all of the aspirations of the local authority in retail and design terms and there will be major benefits to both the town centre and the shopping public."

A public consultation exercise is taking place, with an exhibition of the plans on show at Darwen Library until the end of July. A Sainsbury team are answering questions today and tomorrow.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.