SUPERMARKET giant Aldi and big-name retailer B&Q could be bringing new stores to Stanway as part of fresh plans for the Stane Park site.

Churchmanor Estates has submitted plans for Stane Retail Park, which would include an Aldi supermarket, B&Q store and a Marks and Spencer Food Hall.

An additional six units would be aimed at furniture and homeware retailers.

The scheme, costing around £2.6million, would see the current B&Q store at the Hythe move into the new site, opposite Sainsbury's, in Tollgate.

The retail park will be built alongside an already-approved leisure quarter, which will bring a range of restaurants including Nandos, Bella Italia, Starbucks and KFC.

With the 170,000 sq ft scheme comes a range of highway improvementsto the A12 junction at Eight Ash Green and the Western Bypass.

Stephen Clark, of Churchmanor, said: “We are delighted to have exchanged legal agreements with B&Q for their new replacement Colchester store, which will allow them to leave their existing store in the Hythe now that Colchester Council has granted planning permission for Sainsbury’s to take their unit.

"This will improve the range of food shopping in the Hythe.

“We are proposing a wide range of improvements to the Eight Ash Green roundabout as well as dualling a section of the Western Bypass from the Sainsbury’s roundabout to Yeomanry Way."

He added: "The whole package is costing some £2.6 million and is the result of extensive discussions with Highways England on the best way to achieve improved road safety and use, not only of the junction but also the first section of Western Way to eliminate the queuing back onto the A12.

"If we obtain planning consent within the statutory 13 week period in February/March 2018 then we will be able to make a start on site and on the road improvements in the Spring to allow B&Q to open on time."

The developer is urging the public to give their views on the proposals, by visiting stanepark.com.

The plans come following the approval of Tollgate Village, a development due to built in Stanway including a multi-screen cinema and several restaurants.