BAKERY giant Greggs and kitchen supplier Howdens have been lined up to take over units at a planned new £10million retail park in Clacton.
Development and investment firm Hawkstone Vale was last year given the go-ahead for the new complex at the former gas works, next to Waterglade Retail Park, in Old Road, Clacton.
The three-acre site will comprise of a mixed-use trade development with 14 units as well as a new tyre centre and Subway drive-thru restaurant.
But new plans have now been put forward for alterations to a 140sq metre shop at the site by bakery chain Greggs.
It has applied to Tendring Council to install two air conditioning condenser units, extract vents and fascia signs.
The investment firm had already revealed Subway, Toolstation and P1 Speedy Fit tyre centre had signed up for the development, but the latest plans also reveal the units could include Howdens, Topps Tiles, ScrewFix, Brewers decorator centre, City Plumbing and Tapi carpets.
Blueprints - the firms lined up for the new retail park
It had been mooted that McDonalds would take on the drive-thru restaurant, but the franchise was no longer involved in the scheme when plans were approved last year.
Andy Kirton, managing director of Hawkstone, previously said the development “nicely complements” existing businesses in Clacton, as well as providing about 100 jobs.
Graham Webb, chairman of Clacton Town Partnership, had previously raised concerned about the development’s impact on town centre shopping.
But he added: "The companies that are lined up are about as good as we could have hoped for and hopefully won't have too much impact on the town centre.
"The Starbucks and the Greggs may stop some shoppers going into town, but the remainder of the units seem to be building and trade suppliers, which is much better than a dozen new out-of-town retail shops diverting people away from the town centre."
It was hoped that the complex could have been opened by Spring this year, but the development is thought to have been delayed by the pandemic.
The site used to house the town’s gas works, before they were demolished and the land sold by National Grid.
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