BLUEPRINTS have been submitted for a massive £75 million retail park, leisure and housing complex in Clacton.

Clacton-based Britton Developments said the scheme is for a state-of-the-art McDonald’s, Lidl supermarket, DIY retailer Wickes, Pets at Home store and Costa Coffee.

The plans also include a Marstons family pub, restaurant and 39-bedroom hotel, children’s play zone, business park and 200 homes.

The Brook Park West scheme, on land west of the A133 and opposite the existing Brook Retail Park, would also see the creation of 10 acres of parkland.

Kevin Britton, of Britton Developments, said: “Working with a highly skilled team of architects and landscape consultants, we identified the important characteristics of the site – and how they could be best used for the town, local residents and visitors.

“We have therefore accommodated an optimal combination of development and open space whilst keeping commercial elements away from residents.

“The scheme will increase Clacton’s attractiveness as a retail and leisure destination delivering an important mix of leisure and ‘new to Clacton’ retailers.”

Britton Developments is the same company that developed Brook Retail Park, which includes a Tesco, B&Q and Currys and a country park.

The new scheme would see a new access road created off the existing Brook Park roundabout.

Mr Britton added: “By simply enlarging the A133’s roundabout, which currently serves the existing Brook Retail Park, we can help keep traffic off local roads.

“We have also respected the sensitive ‘green gap edge of Clacton’ by providing an eight-acre public parkland across a broad sweep of the site’s southern area.

Mr Britton said that beyond the parkland would be a “discretely located” new residential neighbourhood of up to 200 homes - both for sale and for affordable rent. 

The developer hopes a decision on the application will be made later this year and that work could start next year, with shops opening by the end of 2018.

Tendring Council leader Neil Stock said: “I think it’s a really exciting statement of intent and proves Clacton is not only open for business, but is attracting business."

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

£75million plans: Looking towards Brook Park West in Clacton.

TOWN centre traders fear the out-of-town development could be another “nail in the coffin” for shops in Clacton.

Clacton Town Partnership chairman Graham Webb called on planners to ensure the proposed Brook Park West scheme does not destroy the vibrancy of the town centre.

“While this will almost certainly provide jobs it will undoubtedly increase the population as a result,” Mr Webb said.

“The town centre has had so many blows in the past few years with the out-of-town Tesco and now Asda.

“We are no different from any other town suffering these problems, but if you want to keep a vibrant town centre, these developments need to be measured.

“This scheme could see the third McDonald’s in a few miles – is there really a need for that?”

But the developer’s agent, Martin Robeson, said the businesses involved in the Brook Park West scheme have been carefully selected.

He said: “The commercial occupiers have been carefully chosen to bring positives to Clacton.

“With the nearest Wickes store being in Colchester, a Wickes in Clacton will provide better local choice in DIY retailing, especially following the closure of Homebase in 2014.

“Pets at Home will provide a vast range of pet supplies as well as selling a wide range of domestic animals.

“The McDonald’s would be additional to the existing ones in the town centre and at Weeley and the new 39-bed hotel will much improve the town’s range of visitor and business facilities.”

Previous plans for an out-of-town cinema and supermarket at the Brook Park West site were previously withdrawn. 

Britton Construction announced in February last year that it wanted to build a six-screen cinema and superstore. 

It is understood that Asda was in advanced negotiations over running the supermarket, but instead opted for the Co-op site off Oxford Road.