WILLIAMS and Griffin’s iconic High Street shop front has been saved, to the delight of campaigners.

The department store is undergoing a £30million redevelopment, due for completion later this year.

When the plans were first debated by Colchester Council, they included replacing the Twenties art-deco style windows.

Store owner Fenwick has changed the designs to save them and have announced a former cafe will be reinstated.

Lyn Barton, borough councillor, fought to protect the windows when the plans were debated by the planning committee.

She said: “I delighted they have found they don’t need to be demolished.

“The windows add a different dimension to the High Street.

“We thought we had lost the battle, then, out of the blue, Fenwick has been really helpful and has been able to rearrange the work so it does not get rid of the art-deco windows.

“Williams and Griffin will remain on the Local List as something we want to keep.”

Mrs Barton was instrumental in developing Colchester’s Local List in 201. The list gives some legal protection to buildings, streets or individual features, such as street lamps.

Fenwick initially thought it would have to replace the shop front because it was in a poor condition, but has discovered it can refurbish it.

A Williams and Griffin spokesman said: “We have decided that, in line with Colchester’s heritage, and as part of their redevelopment project, it will maintain and restore the current menswear building that dates back to the Twenties, which is well known for its lead frontage.

“Customers will be able to see this building in its former glory from November this year.”

As part of the redevelopment, the building will see the return of a first floor cafe.

The section of the store was once a shop called Franklins, which had a cafe on the first floor.

Williams and Griffin wants to find out your memories of the store.

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