Waitrose is to create 140 new jobs at its newest supermarket in Kent.

The upmarket food retailer owned by the John Lewis Partnership has confirmed it will open its first outlet in Ashford next year.

Waitrose has signed a deal with developers Persimmon Homes South East and Taylor Wimpey, for the former Rowcroft and Templer Barracks site in Repton Park.

It forms part of a new high street on the 50-hectare Repton Park site, which will also see Persimmon Homes South East and Taylor Wimpey jointly developing around 1,250 new homes, including 23 apartments above the food store.

With 15,000 sq ft of selling space, the store will be slightly larger than Waitrose’s Tenterden outlet, and will provide 200 car parking spaces for shoppers.

Work is due to start in November with the shop expected to open in time for Christmas 2009.

The 140 new staff - known as partners - will be entitled to a share in annual profits, shopping discounts and a say in how the business is run.

Waitrose development director Nigel Keen said: "This offers us a fantastic opportunity to contribute towards the development of an important area of Ashford.

"We firmly believe that a Waitrose food shop will help add to its vibrancy and offer more choice for the local community."

Waitrose recently announced a big store opening programme over the next few years. It already has 192 stores nationwide, 10 of them in Kent, including Tenterden, Hythe, Longfield, Allington and Biggin Hill.