SAINSBURY’S is poised to open another supermarket in Oxford, it was announced yesterday.

The supermarket chain signed a deal for a new food store at the Templars Retail Park in Cowley centre, which could be up to 2,500sq m large.

It will stand less than two miles from the Heyford Hill Sainsbury’s, where extensive renovations are currently taking place.

The move marks Sainsbury’s return to Cowley after its previous store in Barns Road closed in 2000, and is expected to offer a jobs boost to local people.

Sainsbury’s regional development executive Andrew Sanderson said: “We are excited at the prospect of returning to Cowley and providing a new, quality food shopping destination for the area.

“We aim to make a positive difference by supporting local good causes and getting involved in the community.”

Sainsbury’s is currently building extensions to its store in Heyford Hill, increasing its size from 4,661sq m to 6,003sq m.

It also runs smaller shops in Oxford’s Magdalen Street, The Plain, Cowley Road and in the Westgate Centre.

The supermarket will occupy a new unit on the site of what is currently a B&Q store. The exact size is yet to be determined.

B&Q’s shop is expected to be downsized.

We reported earlier this month how managers at the retail park were planning to apply for a 2,500sq m superstore. If permission is granted, the store could be open by 2014.

Subjit Jassy from owners Resolution Property said: “We are delighted Sainsbury’s has chosen to return to Cowley following its departure a number of years ago.

“The signing of this deal, along with the other improvements we are making to the Templars Shopping Park, will continue to add to the vitality and viability of Cowley as a district shopping centre.”

The park opened in the 1980s and originally measured 13,032sq m with 496 parking spaces. This has now increased to 19,205sq m with 468 spaces.

A £2.2m Asda Living store, selling homeware, clothing and other non-food items opened on the park in May. Further plans which could see three new cafes, four starter homes and a landscaped park built at the site are also in motion.

Earlier this month Cowley traders and shoppers expressed worries at the prospect of a supermarket.

Christine Gilbert, 54, was shopping at the centre yesterday. She said: “Parking will be a pain. It’s also a bit close to the other Sainsbury’s store.”

Anne-Marie Wrench, 28, from Didcot said: “It would be better to build an Asda, or something we don’t already have.”

Asmerm Ghaym from Cowley Express said: “It’ll be great, it’s very sensible.

There is a problem here that people don’t come here for food, so we are missing out.”

It is not yet known how many jobs will be created by the new store.