Asda to open near Ikea, creating 400 jobs

The supermarket chain will open the 45,000sq ft store adjacent to Ikea in Straiton, creating up to 400 full and part-time jobs.

A new petrol station and consumer cafe will also be included on the planned site.

The store, which is set to open its doors in around nine months' time on the former Dansco Dairy site, is also expected to provide a temporary boost to the construction industry.

Asda bought the site, which has planning permission for a food store, last month.

New car-parking spaces will also be included.

Sarah Mills, the chain's communications manager for Scotland, said: "Asda is delighted to be developing a new store at Straiton.

"This is a great location offering local residents and shoppers coming to the area greater choice and value.

"This is a significant investment in an established shopping location.

"New employment opportunities will be created both in store and during the construction period. We are on site and aim to open the store in approximately nine months."

The new store will lie close to the existing Ikea, Costco and not far from the Sainsbury's superstore at Straiton Retail Park, which is set to be extended.

Sainsbury's applied last month to expand the Midlothian store by nearly 4000 square metres, making the store almost 12,000sq m in size.

Meanwhile, there is already a large Marks and Spencer at the Straiton Retail Park.

Councillor Owen Thompson, whose Midlothian ward takes in Straiton, said he welcomed the boost in jobs for the region.

He said: "This is excellent news. At a time when a number of workplaces are having to cut back, any new jobs created must be welcomed.

"Hopefully Asda will also be using a number of local companies in the construction of their new building, giving a further boost to the local economy.

"Clearly Asda are comfortable with the Scottish Government's new business rates proposals to help reduce the impact of the Westminster cuts."