Waitrose has pulled out of plans to build a supermarket in Maldon.

In a shock announcement, the high-end supermarket chain will be replaced by discount retailers Aldi when the former Brooks Brothers site in the Causeway is redeveloped.

In January, developer Aquila was joined by a Waitrose representative at a Maldon District Council meeting, where councillors approved the bid to create a 2.76-hectare shopping centre, including a supermarket and five stores, including Next, and a hotel.

At the time, Aquila said Waitrose could be open in a year.

But last week, the firm applied to alter its planning permission, stating Waitrose had withdrawn from the scheme while Aldi had signed up to open a “slightly smaller” supermarket.

Read the full story in the Standard this week.