FPC (Marham Park) Limited says it is working with national convenience store operator to bring long-awaited shop to Marham Park in Bury St Edmunds
The owner of land earmarked for a long-awaited shop on a Bury St Edmunds estate has said it is working with a national convenience store operator and construction work could start next year.
FPC (Marham Park) Limited has addressed delays in building a convenience store, off Crosses Link, on Marham Park.
Residents have waited six years for the long-promised shop to serve the 1,137-home estate and the surrounding areas.
A petition was even launched in August to rally support.
Today, in a statement to SuffolkNews, FPC (Marham Park) Ltd said, with support from West Suffolk Council, it had been trying to negotiate a deal over the last 12 months with a stakeholder for the purpose of building a new convenience store off Crosses Link.
It said: “Sadly, that deal fell through.
“We appreciate and share in the frustration that this delay has caused for the residents and hope that the community understand this is also a setback for us as well.
“We’re now working closely with a national convenience store operator who also want to see the store open as soon as possible to provide the much-needed facility for the residents of Marham Park.”
Before the recent delay, FPC said it hit a number of major challenges with the project which were the reasons for the delay in the construction and completion of the scheme.
“Simply put, the development hasn’t been viable due to construction cost inflation, high interest rates and being let down by other key stakeholders,” they said.
“The timing of our acquisition of the land has meant that we have borne the brunt of the economic turbulence. We’re the most frustrated out of anyone and are not in the business of land banking.
“As mentioned, the outlook for the project is now more positive and we’re working closely with a national convenience store operator so the project can be brought forward in the near future.
“Our collective aim is that construction can start in 2025.
“We are progressing with the outstanding planning matters as quickly as possible so the project can come forward and we greatly appreciate the support of West Suffolk local planning authority in this regard.”