Bury St Edmunds Co-op developers must work by September

The 4,000sq ft shop, complete with five two-bedroom flats above for private sale, is planned for currently disused land at the Marham Park estate after it was given the green light by West Suffolk Council in September 2021. 

But developer Sheppard Developments now has just two months to begin work before a new reserved matters application will be needed for the site.

Marham Park site where Co-op is planned (Image: Newsquest)

A West Suffolk Council spokesman said: "We secured the land use for an area in which retail, employment, and non-residential institutions can take place. This was done through an outline planning permission and required the developer then market it.

"This marketing was carried out and a reserved matters application was submitted by Sheppard Developments for a retail unit with flats above.

"The planning drawings indicated that this was to be a Coop, although they were not the applicant.

"The permission has until September this year to be commenced. After that time, a new reserved matters application will be required." 

The spokesman added that the requirement for a retail, employment or non-residential institution will remain at the site even if this specific plan falls through.

Work on the local centre, where the Co-op would have been situated, was due to be completed by autumn 2022.

A design and access statement submitted to West Suffolk Council before approval said the store would employ between 15 and 20 staff, three of which would be full-time employees.

This comes just days after the news that the Co-op store in Mildenhall Road, a stone's throw from the Marham Park estate, will close on Saturday, August 19. 

Sheppard Developments has been approached for further comment.