When B&Q, Aldi and M&S at £60m Stane Retail Park in Stanway will open

Churchmanor Estates says construction work on its 173,000 sq ft Stane Retail Park development in Stanway – about the size of three football pitches – is nearing completion.

Most construction works will be complete in September, with the first store to open set to be the new home of B&Q in Colchester.

Opening in October, it will replace the DIY giant’s existing store in Lightship Way, Hythe, with brand new premises in the brand’s latest format.

A CGI of the new B&Q

The new Aldi supermarket on the site will is set to open in November, with the brand also relocating from its smaller shop in nearby London Road.

Colchester’s first M&S Foodhall will open in “early 2022” as the third flagship store for the retail development.

There are several other units also being built on site, some of which have been let to undisclosed tenants. The whole development is expected to create about 300 jobs once complete.

Investment at the retail park will see £2.6 million spent on improvements to the Eight Ash Green A12 roundabout, where a four-way traffic signal junction is being created.

Works to widen Stanway’s Western Bypass to two lanes are also almost finished.

How Stane Retail Park could look

Emma Proctor King, head of communications for Churchmanor, said: “We are thrilled that despite the challenges of Covid we have been able to continue with the construction at Stane Retail Park.

"We hope that our new retail park together with the long overdue highway improvements we are committed to will mean a new and improved retail offer for the Stanway and Colchester communities.”

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Stanway councillor Paul Dundas (Con, Stanway), who is also leader of Colchester Council, said: "It is something I generally welcome as it is a big investment in Stanway.

“Both myself and Lesley Scott-Boutell backed it during the planning stages.

“We are concerned about the traffic levels but Stanway is growing and people want the new facilities and shops.

“Although there are three anchor stores there will also be lots of others on the site.

“The key thing we have managed to get are upgrades to the roads and the junction with the A12.

"It is not a solution but it is a step in the right direction."

Mr Dundas added: “I would support any business which creates jobs for the area and hope they do well.”

A B&Q spokesperson said: “B&Qs brand new and bigger Colchester store will open later this year at Stane Park.

"The new store will offer the convenience our customers expect from B&Q in a new format, helping to make improving their homes even easier.

"Customers will be able to enjoy a bigger, better garden centre, a new inspirational showroom area, and an improved offering for our trade customers.

"There’ll also be a home delivery hub along with our Click and Collect service.

"All colleagues at B&Q Lightship Way have been offered a role either at the new store or another store in the area.”