PLANS to convert the B and Q store at Stairfoot into a Sainsbury's have been put on hold as the supermarket giant reins back development plans amid falling sales, the Chronicle has learned.
Sainsbury's this week reported a half-year loss of £290m and said like-for-like sales had fallen 2.1 per cent during the period. It has been reported as many as 40 supermarket developments across the country will now not go ahead, and only eight new stores will be developed over the next three years.
A Sainsbury's spokesman confirmed the Barnsley store plan was on hold pending the review.
The new store was expected to create up to 400 jobs - when planning permission was granted in July councillors were told only 100 would be lost at B and Q.
** The full story is in the Barnsley Chronicle newspaper, dated November 14. **
