SAINSBURY’S has changed its new store proposals for Saffron Walden – and is holding an event to update the community.

Last December, a planning application for a 40,000sq ft store on the former Granite site in Thaxted Road was narrowly rejected by Uttlesford District Council’s development control committee following a casting vote from chairman Jackie Cheetham.

However the supermarket giant has come back to the table after “considering the feedback from the community”.

The revised proposals have a number of key differences, including:

• A 20 per cent smaller store

• A new petrol station

• An online home delivery service

• Use of smaller vehicles for delivery to the store

• Around 275 new full-time and part-time jobs

Sainsbury’s has also promised to retain parts of the previous application, including:

• customer restaurant

• 360-space car parking spaces

• improvements to junctions including Radwinter Road/Thaxted Road

• improvements to cycle and pedestrian links to the town centre

• more frequent an extended number 34 bus service to the town centre

• free parking in Swan Meadow car park for one hour

• in-store advertising for town centre independent businesses

Sainsbury’s development surveyor Michael Morris said: “Since the very close planning committee decision in December not to approve our previous application, we have given a lot of time and thought to how best to respond t the issues raised.

“As a result, we have made a number of changes, including reducing the size of the store by 20 per cent, committing to using smaller delivery vehicles and adding an online delivery service.

“We have also put a new petrol station on site, which was often requested during the last consultation to provide more price competition locally.”

Sainsbury’s is holding an exhibition at Saffron Walden town hall between 10.30am and 4.30pm on Saturday April 9.

Those who cannot make this event can view the website sainsburys-saffronwalden.co.uk or contact info@sainsburys-saffronwalden.co.uk or call 0800 019 2205.

WHAT do you think of the new store plans? E-mail us at editor@saffronwalden-reporter.co.uk