Senior Sainsbury Official To Look At Peterhead Sites In New Year

Banffshire & Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed a commitment from Sainsbury’s that the company’s Development Surveyor will be visiting Peterhead in the New Year to look at potential sites and meet with Economic Development staff from Aberdeenshire Council.

The SNP MSP had written to Sainsbury’s asking them to consider locating in the town when the company next considers its expansion plans.  The response from Sainsbury’s indicated that the company has previously looked at Peterhead as an option but felt there were no suitable sites.  With the recent closure of Focus and the continued non-development of the Kirkburn Mill site, Mr Stevenson believes the time is right for Peterhead to be looked at again. 

Writing to Mr Stevenson, Sainsbury’s Chief Executive Justin King said:

“We consider every opportunity and should the right site come forward in Peterhead we would happily explore this but at present we believe there are no feasible sites for a supermarket.” 

Commenting on this latest development, Stewart Stevenson MSP said:

“While we must be cautious and not get our hopes up too much, this is nevertheless a very welcome further development.

“When I approached Sainsbury’s recently about the possibility of their coming to Peterhead, the response I received strongly indicated that the company had been looking at the town previously but had, at that time, failed to find a suitable site. 

“There are currently several options in Peterhead for sites which could be developed and I asked Aberdeenshire Council’s Economic Development team to take this forward with the company.

“I am therefore very pleased at this commitment to visit from Sainsbury’s Development Surveyor and I hope that further progress can be made.”