Ambitious plans to turn derelict wasteland in South Woodham into a multi-million pound office and shopping complex have been unveiled.

Two hundred jobs and 25,000 sq ft of office space is promised by local entrepreneur Dino Khan who is behind the ground-breaking deal.

A state-of-the-art on-line chemist is already on board to base its flagship computing and communications centre at the new development in Market Square.

Dino Khan, who recently launched the Postbag Shopping Arcade in the town's Heralds Way, is keen to get started on his latest project.

He said: "I want to pressurise Essex County Council into selling the land quickly."

The land is currently in the process of being sold to supermarket giant Asda.

But Mr Khan said today he needs Asda to sell it onto him quickly so the site can be developed by October.

His proposals include an indoor shopping mall which he hopes to fill with clothes stores, restaurants and bars.

Mr Khan added: "The town is dead. It is clear South Woodham needs people in it during the day and this scheme would do that."

The land already has planning permission for a shopping and office complex.

Builder Malcolm Babbage and Mr Khan are just waiting for the go ahead to buy the land.

Tony Dyer, Asda's regional property manager, said he knew nothing of Mr Khan's plans. He said: "Anything that commits new business and jobs to South Woodham is to be welcomed. We will certainly talk with anyone who has plans to develop the town centre for the future."

Cheema Amridpal, director of Allcures.com, in Stanford-le-Hope - the company which has an interest in moving to the new site - said: "I am over the moon. This is a really nice site. It is very difficult to get big spaces which are available and affordable and we cannot find 25,000 square foot on one floor anywhere else.

"This will bring a very high profile company to the town but I do have to be in the premises by the beginning of October."

Conservative councillor for South Woodham, Maureen Moulds, said the land at Market Square had been wasteland for many years. She said: "It is disgraceful. Anything linked with future employment for residents should be encouraged. Twenty years ago 80 per cent of the workforce in South Woodham were commuters. That has gone down but even so there are very few secure, career-based jobs in the town. This development can only be good."

Right - an artist's impression of the proposed complex

Left- entrepreneur Dino Khan, who hopes to bring more shop and office space to South Woodham

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.