When will Homebase Lowestoft become Sainsbury's store?

Homebase Lowestoft has been serving customers from its current unit at the Tower Retail Park in south Lowestoft since December 2003.

Store closing signs have gone up at Homebase Lowestoft ahead of it becoming a new Sainsbury's store. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes) But with a major national supermarket set to open its doors in Lowestoft for the first time next year, 'everything must go' and 'all stock reduced' posters have appeared alongside the 'store closing - this location only' signs at Homebase Lowestoft.

It comes after J Sainsbury plc - Sainsbury’s - agreed in August to acquire 10 leasehold stores from HHGL Limited - trading as Homebase - in a reported £130m deal to convert them into supermarkets.

Store closing signs have gone up at Homebase Lowestoft ahead of it becoming a new Sainsbury's store. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes) Of the 10 Homebase stores, two locally - in Cromer and Lowestoft - are set to close as part of the national shake-up.

It is understood that the Homebase Lowestoft store is set to close its doors in December.

Store closing signs have gone up at Homebase Lowestoft ahead of it becoming a new Sainsbury's store. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

There will still be around 150 Homebase stores surviving across the country.

Described as "key target locations designed to grow the grocer's coverage across England, Northern Ireland and Scotland," the first of the 10 Sainsbury's stores is due to open next summer - with the conversion of all sites into supermarkets due to be completed by the end of next year.

The grocery giant said that around 1,000 new jobs will be created nationwide, while Sainsbury's promised to interview all affected Homebase employees.

Last month, Simon Roberts, chief executive officer, J Sainsbury plc said: "Sainsbury’s food business continues to go from strength to strength as we push ahead with our Next Level Sainsbury’s plan.

"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."