Supermarket giant Sainsbury’s is hoping Islanders will want to 'try something new' after its plans to open a store on Sheppey were revealed this week.

The chain has announced plans for a £25 million investment at the former HBC Engineering site in Power Station Road, Halfway, which could be open by mid 2013 if given the go ahead.

As well as a Sainsbury’s food store, there are also plans for a petrol station on the same site.

Developer Citygrove Securities PLC is holding a public exhibition for residents to find out more about the project at the site, which has been vacant since HBC closed in February last year after going into administration.

If the Sainsbury’s store is built, Citygrove is hopeful it could create about 400 new jobs as well as a wider choice of retail facilities for residents.

• Full story in this week's Sheerness Times Guardian