Barr Construction, one of the UK’s leading construction companies, has through its retail division secured a series of contracts worth £35 million from Sainsbury’s, which has embarked on an ambitious expansion programme in Scotland.

The contracts will see Barr’s retail division construct two new stores, oversee two store extensions and one store conversion for the supermarket chain. Barr will also be responsible for the construction of Sainsbury’s convenience store programme throughout Scotland.

Barr will begin work in the summer of 2010 on a new 25,000 sq ft (sales) store in Hawick, having recently delivered a new 30,000sq ft store in Strathaven.

The company will add an extra 25,000 sq ft to the existing Sainsbury’s store in Hamilton and will extend the supermarket’s Darnley store, which on completion in October 2010 will have a 100,000 sq ft sales floor, making it Sainsbury’s largest store in Scotland.

Barr will also convert an existing Somerfield store at Saltburn, North Yorkshire. Work is due to commence in April 2010 and is expected to be completed by June 2010.

Barclay Chalmers, managing director of Barr Construction, said: “These contracts represent a significant amount of work for our retail division and they have helped to strengthen our order book. Our retail division is going from strength-to-strength, despite the current downturn within the construction industry, and it is well placed to support Sainsbury’s expansion plans due to its extensive experience in delivering similar retail projects.

“The Darnley project will be particularly challenging as it requires the construction of a new mezzanine level within a store that will continue trading throughout the building programme, but our team will work closely with Sainsbury’s to ensure minimum disruption for its customers.”

Richard Rust, Sainsbury’s Head of Delivery and Construction, added: “We have ambitious plans for Scotland and committed to increasing the number of Scottish stores in the next 2 – 3 years. With the help of Barr, we are on track to deliver stores to more communities and give customers easy access to the Sainsbury’s offer.”