Construction has finally started on the new Sainsbury's supermarket for Staplehurst.

Maidstone and the Weald MP Helen Grant was invited along by the company for a sod-turning event at the site off Station Approach, along with borough council ward members Cllrs Louise Brice and John Perry.

KCC division representative Cllr Eric Hotson and the chairman of Staplehurst Parish Council, Cllr Paddy Riordan, also visited.

They were shown around by Sainsbury's property director Patrick Dunne and head of construction Tony Mars.

Existing buildings on the site have already been cleared and its full-speed ahead now with construction of the new store which is scheduled to open next spring.

The company is saying it will create "more than 100 jobs for local people."

Once open, the 18,000 sq ft store will provide both food, homeware and stationary products. There will be hot food and pizza counters and an in-store bakery, with an Argos concession inside the store.

Mr Dunne said: “We really appreciate the support and patience of the local community.

"We’re proud to be re-generating the local area, supporting hundreds of jobs and giving residents a great shopping choice.”

No doubt when the store opens it will be a relief to villagers, who currently have to travel to either Maidstone or Cranbrook to access a large supermarket, but it has been a long wait.

The company first submitted its planning application in 2011 and was granted permission in 2013.

The store was delayed first by a rival plan from Tesco on a nearby site at the station (Tesco eventually withdrew), and more recently by Covid 19.

Mrs Grant (Con) said: “We’ve been looking forward to Sainsbury’s coming. It’s very exciting and is going to create jobs and opportunities.

"Staplehurst is a vibrant and growing community and it needs a great supermarket to service that need."

Cllr Eric Hotson (Con), who represents Maidstone Rural South, said: “I’m delighted to see this project under way and to see our local community receive this level of investment.”

Cllr Perry said: “It will be brilliant for the village. Staplehurst keeps growing. There are a lot of new people here and we need our own store."

Cllr Brice said: "After everything that has happened over recent months, this positive news has really buoyed up the village. Thank you very much Sainsbury’s for your investment."

"We particularly welcome a major local employer - residents have already been in touch about job opportunities and it is great to hear that Sainsbury's will work with us to support residents in finding out more."

The store will have 161 parking spaces and be accessed via a new mini-roundabout on Station Road, the A229.

The site was formerly occupied by diamond tool manufacturer DK Holdings.

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