STOWMARKET is poised to get a major multi-million pound superstore after council bosses backed the project..

John Howard

STOWMARKET is poised to get a major multi-million pound superstore after council bosses backed the project.

Supermarket giant Waitrose is expected to move into the store in Stowmarket after mid Suffolk district councillors, meeting at their Needham Market chambers, unanimously granted voted to grant planning permission.

The redevelopment of the former Seamans builders yard in Milton Road, Stowmarket, would create a 2,400 square metre shop for a single high quality convenience retailer.

Although no operator has yet confirmed a definite interest in taking up the site, Waitrose is understood to be interested, and the building has been designed with the firm's operation in mind.

Tim Passmore, Conservative leader of Mid Suffolk District Council, said he hoped the site would be taken up by Waitrose and would bring extra trade for other retailers as a spin off.

He said: “This would be wonderful, a fantastic development for the town. This is exactly the sort of high quality retailer we need.

“It will help attract a lot of other customers and visitors to the town, which should have a spin off for many other businesses in the centre.

“I hope this will be the first high quality development of many to come in the next few years, we want the community to become a place everyone in mid Suffolk is proud of.

“I would be absolutely delighted if Waitrose does come and take up this site.”