Supermarket giant Morrisons has revealed the countdown for its Cranbrook store has begun – opening is expected within months and around 75 new jobs.
Earlier this year East Devon News exclusively revealed Morrisons was assessing if the current store design and layout was still right for the town.
Now we can share the retail giant has confirmed it has started fitting out the supermarket with the view to opening ‘later this year or early next’, while creating around 75 jobs locally.
Morrisons said it was about to kick-start recruitment for a host of roles at the Cranbrook supermarket, and invited those interested in working at the store to apply.
The official opening date for the Cranbrook Morrisons is yet to be announced.
A Morrsions spokeswoman told East Devon News: “We know that the residents of Cranbrook are eagerly awaiting a new supermarket in the town and are pleased to confirm that we have started fitting out our new store.
“We are looking forward to welcoming customers and expect to open it later this year or early next – as soon as we have an exact date, we will be in touch to let you know.”
The spokeswoman added: “We will be creating circa 75 jobs locally and are about to kick-start our recruitment process.”
The supermarket site remains fenced off.
Photo: East Devon News.
Fencing surrounds the entire town centre and supermarket site.
Photo: East Devon News.
In May this year, Morrisons said it recognised Cranbrook residents were keen for the supermarket to open and had expected to be shopping in-store by now.
At that time, the retailer was unable to give an opening date, saying it was assessing the original blueprint of the store, in a bid to assess if the design still reflected the needs of community.
Construction of the supermarket site, in the Court Royal area of Cranbrook, began in October 2022, with the district council hinting the store – and much-awaited town centre – could open to the public at the end of 2023.
The retail-ready site – complete with car park – has been fenced off to the public since its completion.
The finished supermarket and car park.
Photo: East Devon News.
Diggers moved onto the town centre site the autumn of 2020 and East Devon District Council (EDDC) held an official turf cutting ceremony to celebrate the start of the construction.
In October 2020 EDDC announced the work would take around a year to complete, saying the town centre was expected to have a Morrisons supermarket, children’s day nursery, retail shops, residential apartments, and a new market square ready by the end of 2023.
The construction of Cranbrook town centre is ongoing.
Photo: East Devon News.
Cranbook residents have been waiting for a town centre for more than a decade, since building began in 2012.
Anyone interested in applying for a role at Cranbrook Morrsions can visit: www.morrisons.jobs.