Supermarket chain Sainsbury’s has been awarded an alcohol sales license for its planned new store in Lenzie.

Preparations are underway for the former Co-Op, located in Millersneuk Shopping Centre, to reopen under its new ownership in February and it is expected to create around 20 jobs.

East Dunbartonshire Licensing Board granted the license, which will permit off-sales from 10 am to 10 pm daily, the playing of background music, home delivery and click and collect and occasional live performances such as carol singers.

The supermarket will have an off-sales area of almost 20 square metres.

The area is not considered to be affected by overprovision of alcohol and rates of related health issues are considered to be relatively low.

The Health and Social Care Partnership did not object to the application but stipulated that Challenge 25 policy must be enforced at all times, and also requested that the off sales area be positioned to reduce visibilty to vulnerable people including children and those in recovery.

They also requested that no deliveries of alcohol be permitted unless they include food, which was disputed by Sainsbury’s whose representative argued that no such condition affected their other branches in East Dunbartonshire or anywhere else in the UK, and that it was more relevant to other types of business such as cafes and restaurants.

After some deliberation the board approved the application.