Newark’s Homebase, on Northgate, one of 10 stores nationally set to become Sainbury’s Supermarkets in handover deal

A major deal has been struck to convert 10 Homebase stores nationally into new supermarkets.

Newark’s Homebase store, on Northgate, is one of the stores set to close in an agreement reached between Sainsbury’s and HHGL Limited, which operates Homebase.

The supermarket chain identified stores in what it called “key target locations” as it aims to grow its coverage across the country and convert them into new Sainsbury’s supermarkets.

The handover of the sites is expected to take place in early September, with the first stores set to open next summer and conversion of all sites complete by the end of 2025.

Across the 10 sites, Sainsbury’s say that the deal will create approximately 1,000 new jobs and confirmed that Homebase colleagues at risk of redundancy will be offered an interview.

The closest Sainbury’s site to Newark is a small store located on London Road in Balderton.

Residents currently have to travel to Grantham, Sleaford, Lincoln, Mansfield, or Nottingham to visit one of the chain’s larger supermarkets.

Sainsbury’s chief executive, Simon Roberts, said: "Sainsbury’s food business continues to go from strength to strength as we push ahead with our Next Level Sainsbury’s 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.”