Final talks ongoing for new Waitrose, council says

Final negotiations are ongoing with Waitrose for the supermarket's first store in an Essex town, a council leader has said.

Gavin Callaghan, the Labour leader of Basildon Council, told fellow councillors that a Waitrose on the vacant plot in Wickford would help put the town "on the map".

A property company owns the land in Golden Jubilee Way and Callaghan said the council would buy the derelict site if necessary.

However, Waitrose said no location had been agreed in Wickford. Meanwhile, the landowner said it was "disappointed" with Callaghan's comments.

The opposition Conservatives were also sceptical and former council leader Phil Turner said "let's see if Waitrose really comes".

Callaghan had said "the supermarket needs to put Wickford on the map and act as a catalyst to wider economic growth".

"We think [Waitrose] is the thing that is going to really revitalise Wickford town centre. We are going to make it happen," he said, speaking at a full council meeting on Thursday.

Callaghan said his administration had been working for months "behind the scenes" and described the talks as being in the "final negotiations".

"There are legals to do. We still have to work with the existing landowner. If necessary we will CPO (compulsory purchase order) that land to make this happen."

The site was occupied by a Co-op supermarket until 2022 and it is owned by property company Heriot.

Heriot told the BBC it was "disappointed" to hear Callaghan's comments as it had been led to believe the council would not attempt a CPO.

"Heriot will strongly resist any attempt to CPO the site which will result in a long and protracted process which will cause further delays before a new supermarket can be opened," a spokesperson said.

A Waitrose spokesperson said: "We regularly look for potential new locations but, while we're incredibly grateful for such a warm local reception, we haven't agreed a new site in Wickford."

The meeting was also told an M&S Food Hall would open later this year in a new health centre, within the former Debenhams store at Basildon's Eastgate Shopping Centre.

Andy Barnes, leader of the Tory opposition, wanted to see more details.

"I would certainly welcome a Waitrose in Wickford and an M&S food in Basildon. But we have been promised these things before and then they haven't been delivered," Barnes said.

The Labour-led administration, which includes independent councillors, also agreed plans not to increase council tax.

Most councils are increasing it, although Conservative-run Harlow and Braintree district councils also propose freezing council tax.

Essex County Council is increasing its share of council tax by 3.95% from April, and the police and fire precepts on local tax bills are increasing by nearly 6%. So residents in Basildon will still see some rises.

Basildon Council will also keep the weekly general waste bin collections in place; move forward with plans to build a 3,500-seater arena; and bring in four hours of free parking at weekends in Billericay and Wickford town centres.

The opposition Conservatives said they would have cut council tax by 1% and brought back free parking for some town centres.

Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.