THE cornerstone scheme by food giant Waitrose to open a superstore in East Cowes has moved a step closer.
The company has lodged planning proposals with the Isle of Wight Council to build the store which is seen as vital for the regeneration of the town.
The scheme will see the store, with associated car park and town square, built near Castle Street and it is set to open early in 2011 if the scheme is given the green light by council planning bosses.
The new store would provide up to 160 new jobs and form part of the regeneration of East Cowes under the Cowes Waterfront initiative, which is promoted by the Isle of Wight Council, the Homes and Communities Agency and the South East England Development Agency.
Waitrose revised its plans following feedback from Islanders received at an exhibition held last year attended by more than 600 people. Of those who commented, 95 per cent said they were in favour of the 18,000 sq ft shop in the town.
The plan includes using different bricks to matchwith the colour of other buildings in the area and the original decked car park has been changed to an open-plan design.
Reporter: davidn@iwcpmail.co.uk