A recession-busting supermarket is bidding to create scores of jobs by expanding one of its Wigan stores.
Sainsbury's celebrated healthy new company figures this week and is now looking to extend its Marus Bridge outlet.
And unlike some ambitious current planning applications for the borough, they won't be waiting until the economic climate has improv
ed before they start.
Bosses say that the extension, which would create up to 60 jobs, would also bring a number of improvements to the store, including a modern, glazed lobby area and a new customer restaurant.
The submission follows a consultation period with local residents, the wider community and the store's customers.
Christian Wakelin, regional development surveyor at Sainsbury's said: "We're delighted that 87 per cent of the people who filled in our feedback forms were in favour of the scheme.
"People seem to be very pleased about the jobs that the extension would create for the local community, and there was a positive reaction to the planned improvements to the store.
"We have taken on board comments made by the public, and we will be enhancing the landscaping around the store boundary as a result of the consultation."
Wigan Council will now consider the application. Should planning permission be granted, the store will remain open throughout construction.
A company spokesman said that if planning permission were granted reasonably quickly, then construction work could begin early in the new year with the project finished by the end of 2010.
