News

WORK has kicked off on the new £20 million Waitrose store in Worcester.

Construction workers have begun demolition at the site in London Road, marking the start of an extensive project to bulldoze the former Ebenezer Baylis print works and create the 40,000 sq ft flagship shop.

The new store, which is planned to open in summer 2016, will feature a range of John Lewis goods, a coffee shop with outside seating, 285 parking spaces and fish, cheese, meat and patisserie counters.

Forty jobs will be created during the mammoth construction process, as well 240 permanent roles.

A Waitrose spokesman said: “The programme is on track with the developer aiming to start construction in the summer once demolition, which is underway, is complete.

“Waitrose will be on site to fit out the store approximately two months before we aim to open in early summer in 2016.”

The supermarket giant won planning permission for the new store in 2014 and is working with a third party developer on the building project.