SAINSBURY’S is looking to open a new convenience store in Benfleet.

The supermarket giant is hoping to build a new Local store on the site of the former Benfleet Garage in High Road, which has been knocked down.

It is proposed that the store will be open between 7am and 11pm, but there are no details on how many staff will be hired.

Planning documents read: “The site will benefit from an 11-bay customer car park (including one accessible bay) to the rear of the site.

“Provision has been made for two motorcycles.

“This will remove the potential for parked vehicles in the street and prevent on street parking on High Road and on the surrounding residential streets.

“Servicing to the proposed convenience store will be from a delivery bay at the front of the site which will provide a dedicated space in which staff can undertake deliveries without any disruption to the surrounding road network.”

It continues that the new store would fit in with the look of the high street.

It reads: “The application site provides an appropriate location for a new Sainsbury’s Local convenience store, which will be well placed to serve the local residential community in South Benfleet and those visiting the town centre.

“The proposals seek to achieve a high-quality development which will make a positive visual contribution to the local area.”

Castle Point councillor Wendy Goodwin said she thought it would be good for the town, but had some concerns.

She said: “There are a lot of grocery stores along High Road, but Sainsbury’s in always a winner,.

“It will encourage competition and if that drives prices down that is always a good thing.”

She added that there were issues with parking and lorries making deliveries that would need to be addressed.