A Homebase store in Fareham is set to be transformed into a supermarket.

National supermarket chain Sainsbury’s is set to expand its number of stores across the country – with a new store coming to shoppers in Fareham.

Sainsbury’s said it expects to complete the deal to buy the leasehold stores early this month and said the 10-store acquisition plan will cost around £130 million.

The Homebase store that is set to be transformed is located at the Collingwood Retail Park on Newgate Lane, Fareham.

The supermarket group has said that the addition of new locations means nearly 400,000 more people will be within a 10-minute drive of a Sainsbury’s supermarket.

New stores will showcase Sainsbury’s latest food offer with a fully refurbished store and sustainability credentials.

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Chief executive officer Simon Roberts said: “Sainsbury’s food business continues to go from strength to strength as we push ahead with our next plan.

“We have the best combination of value and quality in the market and that’s winning us customers from all our key competitors and driving consistent growth in volume market share.

“We want to build on this momentum which is why we are growing our supermarket footprint.

“Our ambition is to be customers’ first choice for food and these new stores will showcase some of the best that Sainsbury’s supermarkets have to offer to even more communities around the country.”

The closures of these Homebase store will result in around 1,500 job losses.

In order to support the former Homebase staff, Sainsbury’s has said it will guarantee an interview for any Homebase colleagues who are placed at risk of redundancy as a result of this transaction.

The supermarket will open the first of these stores next summer and we aim to complete the conversion of all sites by the end of 2025.