MORRISONS plans to open a new superstore in Pitsea town centre which could create up to 400 new jobs.

Plans have been published for a 75,000sq ft supermarket, which would be four times the size of the current Aldi store it would replace, in Rectory Park Drive.

It is understood the neighbouring Pitsea Pool, which is behind Aldi, would be demolished to make way for the larger supermarket, but the leisure centre which is in a separate building would remain.

The parade of shops next to Aldi would also be demolished, to clear the way for the superstore.

The Morrisons store would be the centrepiece of wider redevelopment plans for the shopping centre, which have been drawn up private development company, London and Cambridge Properties.

The company bought the lease for the Aldi store and surrounding land, including Pitsea Market, in 1995, and will spend up to £30million on the overall scheme.

Nick Burgess, a director at London and Cambridge, said: “Morrisons is very interested in the site and a huge, new, shiny store like this will attract new stores to the town centre and the regeneration will go from there.

“Better retailers will want to come to the site.

“We want to create a bit of competition with Tesco under the Pitsea flyover and hopefully attract more shoppers back into the town centre where they will spend their money.”

The new Morrisons store would contain its own cafe.

A planning application for the proposals is set to be handed into Basildon Council next month.