PLANS for a new Morrisons supermarket in Wickford have been approved by Basildon Council.

The scheme will see developer Heriot UK’s replace the former Co-op off Wickford High Street, which closed in May.

Last night Basildon’s planning committee voted to approved the scheme despite the fact the car park, run by the council, will be reduced from 329 to 255 car parking spaces.

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The developer has pledged the 90 minutes free parking currently offered will be maintained for members of the public that make an in-store purchase.

The supermarket itself will create 117 full time jobs – 70 more than the former Co-op, according to Heriot UK.

The plans will also see 27 trees, described as “low to moderate quality” by the council, felled to enable the reconfiguration of the car park.

One large oak tree on the site will be protected and retained, while the firm has pledged to plant 30 new trees across the car park.

A spokesman for the developer said: “We would envisage Morrisons would look to open the store at the end of 2023 or early in 2024.

“The total cost of demolishing the existing structure, building a new building and levelling the whole parking lot will cost several million pounds.”