CONSTRUCTION of a new Morrisons in Wickford appears to have been hit by delays.

A scheme to bulldoze the Co-op off Wickford High Street - which closed in May of 2022 - was approved in September.

Developer Heriot UK was given permission to build a new supermarket in its place which would be leased to Morrisons.

READ MORE

When the scheme was approved, a spokesman for the developer said demolition of the former Co-op would begin this month with the new store opening “at the end of 2023 or early in 2024”.

With less than a week left of January, the former Co-op has yet to be knocked down.

“I cannot say what has caused this delay but we were expecting demolition to have begun by now,” Wickford Park councillor David Harrison said.

“As far as I understand, Morrisons are anxious for the scheme to be completed in good time.

“I can’t say what has caused the slow down for the developer. It is an old building, so there may be some complications arising from its age.”

He added: “I can assure residents that everyone is working towards ensuring the scheme is a success and opens as soon as possible.” 

When contacted by the Echo, a spokesman for Morrisons said they could not confirm and dates or details on the pending demolition.

The scheme to renovate the supermarket will see parking spaces reduced from 329 to 255.

But the developer has pledged the 90 minutes free parking currently offered will be maintained for members of the public that make an in-store purchase.

The supermarket itself will create 117 full time jobs – 70 more than the former Co-op, according to Heriot UK.

The plans will also see 27 trees, described as “low to moderate quality” by the council, felled to enable the reconfiguration of the car park.

One large oak tree on the site will be protected and retained, while Heriot has pledged to plant 30 new trees across the car park.

The total cost of demolishing the existing structure, building a new building and levelling the whole parking lot will cost several million pounds, according to Morrisons.