SUPERMARKET chain Morrisons is set to open a new store in the centre of Carterton, we can reveal.

A consortium which includes the UK’s fourth largest food retailer has confirmed it has bought the town’s Old Market site for an undisclosed fee.

It is now preparing for talks with both West Oxfordshire District Council and Carterton Town Council about the size of the development.

The news of the regeneration and the jobs it will bring has been welcomed by community leaders.

If the development comes to fruition, it will mark the end of a decade-long saga over the future of the former market site, in Black Bourton Road.

The consortium is made up of Morrisons, the Box Clever Group and Simons Group, the company behind Witney's Marriotts Walk shopping centre.

Brad Andrews, of Box Clever, revealed news of the project at a Carterton Town Council meeting last week.

He said the consortium was planning for a “decent-sized Morrisons supermarket” on the land as part of a phased development.

However, the exact details and timescales have yet to be released and meetings with both council are planned in the next few weeks to discuss the details.

Mr Andrews added: “Close to 300 full and part-time jobs will be generated in the town, and above all it will regenerate the town as a shopping destination.”

The five-acre area to be developed consists of the Old Market site, land occupied by the Robert and Doris Care Home and a car park behind the Beehive pub.

The land, earmarked for a retail development in the district council’s Local Plan, has been linked with several supermarket chains in recent years, most recently Tesco.

It is understood that a covenant, preventing a food store opening on the site, has been lifted.

Town councillor Phil Scott said news of the development was “very encouraging”.

He said: “It’s well overdue. It should have been done years ago.

“We welcome any business to the town, as we’re trying to grow Carterton as a place to come and shop.”

Mr Scott, who is also chairman of the town’s chamber of commerce, said a new store would help all traders.

He said: “Anybody coming into Carterton, whether it’s to the market or to a shop, will shop in other places as well.

“With RAF Lyneham personnel coming to Brize Norton, it’s all positive stuff for Carterton.”

The site was sold by Harry Watts, who owns the care home.

He bought the Old Market site in 2007 from the Co-operative.

Mr Watts said the sale would allow him to move the care home to a new site in Milestone Road.

He said: “The new home will cost the best part of £3m or £4m. I want to reinvest in the quality of the home.”

He added he was glad Morrisons was developing the town centre site and added: “I want to see a good quality store come into the town without destroying the shops.”

Carterton Market moved from the site to pitches in Black Bourton and Alvescot Roads in 2007.

No-one was available for comment at Morrisons head office.