ASDA launches its Waterside store website

The supermarket giant has now confirmed last week’s revelation by the Londonderry Sentinel, that it plans to open a store in the Waterside.

Plans for the major new development can be viewed at www.asdacrescentlink.co.uk

Developer Genova Limited, part of the Murdock Property Group, has already submitted a planning application for a redevelopment at the retail park and ASDA has declared its aspirations to play a key part in the proposal.

The planning application seeks to extend and reconfigure the existing Homebase retail warehouse, enabling the development of both a new Homebase unit and a new ASDA store.

The food store element of the scheme will see a new 40,000 sq ft (sales area) ASDA store open on the park, supported by a 990 space car park.

The store will carry the full range of ASDA products including Extra Special, ASDA and Smart Price brands, as well as non-food products such as George clothing, homeware, DVDs and console games.

If given the go ahead, the new development will create around 350 new full and part time jobs at the park, with further jobs created in the construction and fitting out of the store.

DUP Councillor, Joe Miller, who was involved in discussions to bring about the project, said he was delighted that ASDA was set to open in the Waterside.

He said: “This is brilliant news for the Waterside and will complement the other developments planned for the Waterside. This is an exciting time, and the decision of ASDA to open store is a vote of confidence in the city as a whole. It is great for consumers and it will create badly needed jobs.”

The permanent retail jobs would amount to many hundreds of thousands of pounds in new salaries circulating in the local economy every year.

It isn’t only the number of jobs created that could bring major potential benefits to the area, but the company’s drive to place a particular focus on the long term unemployed.

ASDA was one of the first companies to sign up to Local Employment Partnerships (LEPs), in early 2008, and is now well versed in running these partnerships, in close conjunction with Jobcentre Plus and other agencies.

An LEP uses a number of tried and tested measures to give the long-term unemployed the best possible chance of re-entering the workplace.

ASDA Property Communications Manager, Philip Bartram, said: “We are pleased to be playing a central role in this substantial investment opportunity.

“The effects of the recession are still being keenly felt and the hundreds of new jobs linked to this proposal will make a huge difference to hundreds of local households.

“This development will deliver genuine long-term economic benefits. Aside from creating many new jobs, with excellent benefits and training and development opportunities, we want to bring the full ASDA shopping offer to the area, with our renowned customer service and a wide range of quality products at ASDA’s famous low prices.

“We have won the Grocer 33 Award – for the lowest priced supermarket - for 13 years in a row and that value comes with no compromise on the quality and service offered every day to our many customers.

“Initial feedback reaching us from the community is that the arrival of ASDA would be very welcome. Many people already travel to Strabane to visit an ASDA store. Indeed, many shoppers from Donegal currently drive through Derry, without stopping, on their way to Strabane, we hope that these proposals will localise our offer, and keep visitors in the City where they can visit not only ASDA, but other shops as well.

“We will be carrying out a public consultation in Derry over the coming weeks, so we can listen to the local community’s views on our plans and get their feedback.”

A spokesperson for Genova Limited, commented: “We believe this is terrific news for the area, offering increased quality shopping choice in Derry.

“We are delighted to be able to propose such major investment at a time when so little investment is being made elsewhere. The local people that we’ve spoken to so far have made it very clear that they want to see an ASDA store in the city.”

Garvan O’Doherty, a leading Londonderry business figure said: “It’s great to see that ASDA have finally made this commitment to Derry – Crescent Link is a great Park and the right place for them. They will bring their modern retail offer to the City which will benefit everyone and the new store will stop local spend leaking to Strabane and Coleraine. I strongly welcome these proposals and hope that all Derry folk will give it their strong support.”