DEMOLITION work is due to start to make way for a north Hampshire supermarket’s long-awaited expansion.

Vacant industrial units next to the Sainsbury’s supermarket in Mulfords Hill, Tadley, are set to be demolished later this month in preparation for the store’s expansion, but construction work is unlikely to start before 2010.

Planning permission to build a single-storey extension for additional non-food retail units, extra parking spaces, new entrances, landscaping and to move the recycling facility was granted by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council last December.

In the months since the plans were approved, Sainsbury’s has been working towards complying with planning conditions and legal agreements on highways issues are still being negotiated with Hampshire County Council.

David McElhannan, Sainsbury’s development executive, said: “Given the timescales involved in progressing this extremely technical agreement it is likely that work to construct the extension will begin early next year.”

He added: “The industrial units have been vacant for some time and we feel it is important to ensure the area is properly secured for health and safety reasons.

“Once demolition is complete, hoardings will be erected around the vacant land to prevent any antisocial activities in the area.”

Mr McElhannan said that demolition work is set to last for about four weeks.

Councillor Stephen West, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Councillor for the Tadley Central ward, said: “I will be working with Sainsbury’s management to ensure that the noise and disruption during the works is kept to a minimum.”