Work On Manningtree Tesco To Start Next Year

17 October 2014, 08:36 | Updated: 17 October 2014, 08:38

Work on the controversial Tesco superstore in Manningtree is due to start next year.

Planning permission for the store on Station Road was given three years ago, following years of wrangling and objectsion, but no significant progress on the project has yet been made.

Tendring District Council says, following a meeting with Tesco, it now appears building work may start in 2015.

Carlo Guglielmi, TDC's Cabinet Member for Planning and Corporate Services, said: "It was a good meeting and I am delighted to be able to reveal the majority of the nine pre-building conditions which were placed on the planning consent has been met, with the remainder close to being discharged," he said.

"In effect that means that they are in a position to start on site soon and I have been told that will be early next year.

"I am hoping to be presented with a more definite timetable of works soon and I will be making that public as soon as I have it."

Cllr Guglielmi said new developments in the area were key: "We talked about the proposed 150 new homes at Cox's Hill, and other developments due to take place in Brantham and the surrounding area," he added.

"This was enough to convince Tesco that the time is right economically to proceed with the scheme at Manningtree."

"e have been working hard with Tesco to get to the stage where they are close to having all the pre-build conditions discharged, and that is a big step forward," he said.

"I expect to be able to give firmer dates about a programme of works within the next couple of weeks.

TDC Leader Mick Page welcomed the news and said that he was delighted that the new store is now on the horizon: "A great deal of hard work has gone into this and it now looks that the start of work on site is literally just around the corner," he added.

"This is good news for Manningtree and that area of Tendring and the store will create new jobs for local people."