RICHARD PARR Dozens of new jobs will be created in a Norfolk market town under plans to build a multi-million pound retail park. The main element of the £4m scheme will be a 14,500 sq ft Lidl food store.

RICHARD PARR

Dozens of new jobs will be created in a Norfolk market town under plans to build a multi-million pound retail park.

The main element of the £4m scheme will be a 14,500 sq ft Lidl food store.

It will replace the old Co-op Rainbow store, which closed in December last year after 22 years in the town and with the loss of around 70 jobs.

Last night Lidl's development executive, Jeremy Lee, told the EDP the scheme, which has yet to be submitted for planning consent, would effectively create a mini retail park on the four-acre site off Holt Road, on the edge of Fakenham town centre.

There would also be a number of other units built for use by other retailers.

A small stand-alone pharmacy is also included in the proposal. A second phase could include housing and a new medical centre.

Mr Lee said the company was going through a consultation period and making its proposals known to the local authorities as well as residents in properties close to the site.

Mr Lee said that new jobs would be created and there would be opportunities for some of the people made redundant from the old store to apply for the posts.

If all the necessary planning processes go ahead it is expected that the old store could be demolished and work started on the new Lidl store by early next year.

"Fakenham is a good town that we would like to be in and we are pleased with the trading levels of our other stores in Norfolk," said Mr Lee.

Any comments reegarding the proposed new development should be sent to David J. Prichard, 14 Linden Square, Harefield, Uxbridge UB9 6tq.

People can also make comments via e-mail by March 19 to david@f-b-p.com