Herriot £30million plans for Wickford Co-op site revealed

Mark Francois, Conservative MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, met with senior executives from property developers Herriot in his Westminster office where they discussed future proposals for the old supermarket site off Wickford High Street.

This comes after supermarket chain Morrisons pulled out of an original plan to build a new store on the site and claimed it would be “no longer commercially viable”.

Empty - the former Co-op site (Image: Mark Francois)

In their update, the Tory MP says Herriot bosses revealed they are now in advanced talks with a major national supermarket chain to build a new town centre store, including a draft legal agreement.

The total proposed scheme, which would also include a three-storey set of flats and parking for residents at the rear of the new store, is now around £30 million. Plans for an underground car park have been scrapped.

Meeting - Mark Francois with Herriot senior executives (Image: Mark Francois)

Mr Francois said: "After all the delays at the former Co-op site, I well understand how frustrated my constituents have become that they do not have a major supermarket open on this site.

"It is good news that the new Aldi supermarket is open, but we now need more consumer choice and a second supermarket, on the Co-op site.

"I was therefore very heartened to learn from Herriot that they have been working hard behind the scenes and are now in advance talks with a major national supermarket on a revised scheme with fewer flats, but roughly the same amount of retail floor space.

"Both Herriot and I hope to be in a position to say more about this project as soon as the commercial negotiations have been finally concluded."

Subject to planning permission, Mr Francois says it is hoped that work on the store could commence before the end of the year, with an opening date sometime in 2025.