About 80 full time and part time jobs will be created through the expansion of Sainsbury’s supermarket near Sixfields in Northampton.
Work started on alterations to the Weedon Road store a month ago, and this week work began to demolish the landmark tower which used to stand at the entrance to the shop.
It is expected the redevelopment of the supermarket will be completed by the end of the year and the main changes will see a new second storey built on top of the current building and a decked car park constructed in front of the store.
Duty manager, Ben Newton, said both staff and customers were excited about the work.
He said: “Shoppers have been really positive about the alterations and we’ve had a lot of questions about what’s going on.
“There’s a real sense of anticipation from people and the staff are really looking forward to the changes.”
While the work is being carried out, the supermarket’s cafe has been moved to a temporary building in the store’s car park as have the toilets and a branch of the shoe repair firm, Timpson.
The project manager for the extension works, Alex Shearer, said work on the development was progressing well.
He said: “We’re looking forward to improving the store for our customers, as well as creating new jobs for local people.
“The works are being safely phased so customers can rest assured that the store will remain open and accessible throughout.”
To get into the shop, customers now have to walk through a covered walkway. Once inside the store, there are few visible signs of the work being carried out outside.
Plans for the expansion of the store were backed by Northampton Borough Council’s planning committee in January last year, with councillors saying it would be a real boost for the town.
Improvements will include the creation of a large shopping area and the introduction of a new clothes department.
New hot food and fresh food counters will also be created inside the new look store.
The main alteration will be the creation of a new second floor above the current supermarket.
The second floor will contain a new cafe.
A new decked car park will also be built in the store’s current car park.
Shoppers will be able to get to the second floor either from the new car park or by using stairs, a lift or a travelator from the ground floor.
To improve access into the store, a new roundabout will be built in Gambrel Road.
Sainsbury’s has said it expects to start recruiting extra people to work in the new look store in the next few months.