Work due to start on Co-op extension (From Cotswold Journal)

Work due to start on Co-op extension

10:30am Saturday 27th October 2012 in News By Freya Leng

PLANS to extend Chipping Norton Midcounties Co-operative are gathering pace with building work expected to start before Christmas.

West Oxfordshire District Council approved plans to extend the store between Albion Street and High Street earlier this year.

The plans include an extended retail area as well as an increase to its free car parking spaces from 84 to 151.

Demolition work will start before Christmas so work on the new two-storey car park can begin in January.

Bob Richens, district manager of Co-op, said the project would take about 18 months.

Speaking to the town council, he said: “Things may well start happening very shortly.

This is a major investment for us. We will trade throughout.”

Work on the new car park will take six months while construction of the extension will take eight months followed by a further two months on installing fixtures and fittings.

Deputy mayor Mike Tysoe said: “The great thing about this development is we’re going to get more car parking spaces which will encourage a lot more people into the centre of Chipping Norton.”

But the relocation of the post office, pharmacy and travel agent into the enlarged store, leaving three empty shops, was a worry to some councillors. “It’s a concern to the people around this table,” said Coun Alan Corfield.