WAITROSE, or M&S, could soon be opening a store on Canvey.

The high-end store would feature on a new retail park planned in Roscommon Way, near Morrisons in Northwick Road

Developers New River Retail revealed in the summer its plans for a new park featuring a garden centre and a Costa Coffee drive-through.

Now in a report, published by Castle Point Council planning officers, it has revealed the names of the brands who could be setting up shop.

It suggests “a high end food retailer, such as Waitrose or Marks & Spencer” is proposed for one of the units.

Discount store B&M are in line to occupy another, with Sports Direct also opening up next door.

The occupiers of the two remaining units have yet to be identified.

And planning officers are recommending the plans be approved at the planning meeting scheduled for next Tuesday.

Jan Payne, who owns the Sweet Stall, in the Knightswick Centre, says she believes either high-end supermarket could prove to be a good asset for Canvey.

However Mrs Payne, who is also a borough councillor, urged caution at some of the other names looking to open up.

She said: “Hopefully what it will do is get people coming to our island, and not just to the retail park, but also to the town centre and the seafront.

“I do some shopping at Waitrose in Southend, so to have one on Canvey would be great.

“It would provide a bit of competition for the likes of Morrison and Sainsbury’s too.

“Where I am bit concerned is that names such as B&M who are these one-stop-shops could cause problems for some of our smaller independent shops here.

“We have quite a few including GMDs and the place at Charfleets, and I wouldn’t want people just going to a larger chain for everything, and forgetting about long-standing businesses on the island.”

Colin Riley, leader of Castle Point Council, says he is delighted big brands are looking to Canvey.

He said: “If Waitrose or M&S chose to come to Canvey, it means that shoppers across Castle Point have a real choice.

“There isn’t a Waitrose on the island, and a lot of people go to Southend.

“So having one here would be great, as it would get people spending money and would also mean creating more jobs too, not just at the supermarket, but at the other shops in the park as well.”