PLANS for a Waitrose food store and new fire station in Evesham can be viewed at a public exhibition taking place next week.

Waitrose, Wychavon District Council and Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service are inviting local people to view and discuss the plans to regenerate the site of the town’s existing fire station and Old Brewery Car Park, opposite Merstow Green, at the event from 2pm until 8pm next Thursday (14 Nov) and at 10am to 4pm on Friday (Nov 15) at Evesham Town Hall, in Market Square.

The plans would see the fire station relocate to a site next to the Leisure Centre on Abbey Road and up to 150 new jobs would be created.

From tomorrow people will be able to visit the project’s dedicated website at eveshamwaitrose.co.uk.

Representatives from Waitrose and the project team will be on hand to answer questions. 

Leader of Wychavon District Council, Councillor Paul Middlebrough, said:
“We are extremely excited at the prospect of Waitrose coming to Evesham, providing a terrific boost to the town centre economy. 

"We are also very keen to secure a modern new facility for the fire service.  This is an excellent opportunity for Evesham and  a great example of partnership working.”

Waitrose Director of Development, Nigel Keen, said: “We have a long-standing ambition to have a shop in Evesham and believe this is an exciting opportunity to make a major investment in the town centre which will deliver a strong retail anchor and help facilitate a new fire station.”

Subject to comments received during the consultation a planning application would be submitted early next year. 

If plans are successful, the aim will be to construct the new fire station next summer, with it to open during summer 2015.

Work on Waitrose will begin shortly afterwards with the shop opening in spring 2016.