A NEW Tesco will be built in Southend town centre creating up to 500 new jobs.

More than three years after the original plans were first announced, a planning application for a £50million development has finally materialised.

The three-storey building, on the site of the old B&Q warehouse in Short Street, is expected to be open by late 2012 or early 2013. It will be the borough’s 12th Tesco.

The development, which also includes a new Focus youth centre for Southend Council, is expected to provide an economic boost for the town centre and deprived areas nearby.

It will be linked to the Victoria shopping centre via a pedestrian bridge across Queensway, allowing shoppers to easily walk between the supermarket’s second floor and the town centre.

As a Tesco Extra store it will be similar to the Prince Avenue branch, stocking food, clothing and home furnishings. A deli, bakery, opticians, pharmacy and a cafe will also feature.

There will be 540 parking spaces in a ground and basement-level car park, plus 90 cycle stands. Drivers will arrive at the store from Short Street, not Queensway.

The original proposal, which included housing, was estimated at £150million.

Council leader Nigel Holdcroft said: “It’s good news they’re bringing forward plans for this important and prominent site.

“I would hope to see a store there in the near future to clear up what’s become an eyesore as far as the existing site is concerned.

“The 500 jobs is good news, and will help regenerate that area.

“The pedestrian bridge should also help the Victoria shopping centre as well.”

Tesco owns the B&Q site, but the council owns the youth centre building and the 100-space Short Street car park, which it has agreed to sell to Tesco.

Louise Gosling, corporate affairs manager for Tesco said: “We’re really excited.

“The superstore will be part of Tesco’s pioneering Regeneration Partnership – this means a large portion of the jobs at the store will be set aside for people who’ve been unemployed for six months or longer.

“Working with local employment agencies and JobcentrePlus, we’ll make sure successful candidates are given an eight-week training course with a guaranteed job at the end.”

The plans will be exhibited at the Victoria shopping centre, from Saturday, February 19, with Tesco staff on hand from 11am to 3pm to answer people’s questions.

The planning application follows a four-week public consultation last summer.

The council’s Tory cabinet members have already agreed for the site to be used as a supermarket, but detailed plans still have to be approved by the cross-party development control committee. A final decision is expected by May 3.