TO the world in general, it is business as usual at Williams and Griffin.

The Colchester High Street store has been undergoing a £30 million transformation, not an easy task when the store has been open as normal each day.

Customers have continued to browse and shop although they may have needed a little guidance to navigate the temporary locations of departments.

Behind the scenes, however, it is another story.

There, a small army of 90 builders, electricians, plumbers, and plasterers are busy creating the new store and new shopping experience.

The work started in February last year and is now half-way through.

The single storey buildings at the back of the store have been demolished.

In their place a new building has been constructed, four storeys high at its starting point in North Hill going to three storeys by the time it reaches the High Street.

The new building will mean Williams and Griffin will have a total of space of 115,000 sq ft, of which 88,000 sq ft will be retail space – an increase of 50 per cent.

When all the work is finished next July, the new and there will be four vast, distinct floors.

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

On the outside of the newbuilding, the red brick facade has nearly been completed and inside miles of cable have been installed.

The sprinkler system is being fitted, as are the lifts and the escalatorswhich will take shoppers up the 22 metres from ground to top floor. Once the building work is finished, fixtures and fittings will be supplied by Dula, the German firmwhich fitted out Harrods and Selfridges.

The contract for the redevelopment is being carried out by Sir Robert McAlpine, which also built Colchester Garrison’s Merville Barracks, the home of 16 Air Assault Brigade.

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

For Steve Pyatt, Sir Robert McAlpine’s project manager, the issue which is uppermost in his mind is the completion of the new building.

Once that is completed and fitted, the stock from the main store will be carried through.

Then the main store will be closed while phase two of the project is carried out.

This is due to happen at the end of September – in just 12 weeks.

To the uninitiated, looking at the sea of wiring and half completed ceilings, it might appear an ambitious target – but it will happen.

Mr Pyatt said: “It looks like there is a lot to do, but we are on target. The mechanical and electrical work above the ceiling is nearly done and and then we have to get the lifts in.

“The next four weeks will see a major transformation.

“Once Dula have supplied the fixtures and fittings, it will sparkle.”

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

There is an air of excitement about beginning and ultimately completing the second phase of the work.

That will see the front of the store, the original building, transformed.

A 1960s facade will be replaced with a sharp, 21st century steel and glass frontage featuring windows 15 metres tall surrounded by portland stone.

The glazing is due to be installed in the spring after which the crane will be dismantled and removed.

Carl Milton, managing director of Willie Gees, said conscious efforts have been made to integrate the historic parts of the store with the new building.

The part which was Jacklin’s restaurant will be the new location for Caffe Nero coffee shop.

And timber beams, including the king post, from the Tudor building, have been put into storage ready to take pride of place in the revamped store.

Mr Milton said: “We are aiming to be sympathetic in our work and to layer new developments with Williams and Griffin’s history.”

Mr Milton and the store’s general manager, Claire Chandler, said customers had been inquisitive about the developments and keen to keep up with the progressing project.

Come next July, all will be revealed. And then there is the little matter of a name change.