Work has started on a new �2.5million Retail Park on Peartree Road in Colchester, offering 35,000 sq ft of new shopping space for the west of the town.

The development, next door to the existing East of England Co-operative Society Supermarket, is being carried out by Ardencrest, the Society’s property company.

Main contractor Barnes Construction were due to start work on Monday, July 30, and the retail park is due to be finished in early 2013.

The development, which was granted planning permission in January, will be built as four units. These units will be available to let separately, each with the option of a mezzanine level to provide additional space, or together as a 35,000 sq ft store.

Nick Denny, Executive Officer – Property for the East of England Co-operative Society, said: “This is an exciting development for the Society and for Colchester. The units provide the opportunity for retailers to position themselves in a key location in Colchester on a site which is anchored by our successful supermarket.

“Our property portfolio is an important part of the Society across East Anglia, and this development is part of our plan to grow the business for the future.”

The new retail park will have a total of 400 parking spaces for the new retail units, as well as the East of England Co-op store, and existing tenants Hatfields who run a store on the Peartree Road site.

The first phase of the development was the �5million new build East of England Co-op Supermarket which opened in April 2007. This replaced the previous co-op store on the site and has offices above that are leased to businesses and organisations.

The Co-op supermarket is also home to branches of the society’s travel, optical and mobility businesses, and a petrol forecourt.