Asda in move for 24-hour store at Inverness

ASDA wants to extend the opening hours of its superstore at Slackbuie in Inverness – a year before it is due to welcome its first customer.

The supermarket chain wants its first city store to open 24-hours a day and is holding a public consultation at Fairways Leisure on Friday, October 21, between 3pm and 7pm.

Current planning permission for the store restricts its opening times to between 8am and 10pm Monday to Sunday.

Deliveries would be permitted between 6am and 10pm Monday to Friday, from 8am to 8pm on Saturday, and 12pm-8pm on Sunday.

Asda’s new hours proposal, which it will submit after the consultation, would remove these opening times and delivery restrictions, termed condition 14 of the store’s planning permission, and allow the store to alter delivery times at busier times of the year.

Liz Rooke, Asda’s property communications manager in Scotland, said: "Following the initial submission of our plans for the new store, we have looked again at the most appropriate opening hours and delivery schedule for the store and how best we can serve the community.

"We hope residents will take the opportunity to find out more about the proposed changes and how construction at the site is progressing."

Rival Tesco’s supermarket at the near-by Inshes Retail Park closes at midnight Monday to Saturday, and operates from 9am to 8pm on Sundays.

The 40,000 sq ft Slackbuie store is Asda’s first in Inverness, and is due to open in autumn next year.