ALDI has been given the go-ahead to expand by demolishing historic buildings, including Wickford’s oldest town centre building.

The supermarket in The Broadway, Wickford, will be knocking down the old buildings to allow for a larger store.

It will also increase parking spaces at the site from 87 to 96.

And the store bosses will look to increase its current shop floor from 980sq m to 1,254 sq m, making it the same size as about 12 tennis courts.

The company has now purchased the building at 2 to 12 The Broadway, to provide the additional space.

A petition was launched by Ian Ulting, 40, from Wickford, to save the buildings and it received 156 signatures in support.

He said: “Well I’m obviously very sad to hear that Aldi has been given the green light to demolish Wickford’s oldest town centre building.

“It is a great loss to our heritage along with The Castle Pub that went before it.”

Echo:

Some of the buildings to be demolished

But other residents, shoppers and councillors welcomed the expansion.

Barry Cox, of Nevendon Road, Wickford said: “I like this shop and think it does need work and improvement.

“I do understand worries about the loss of the old buildings but also think the need is a big issue.

“The store is so popular and always busy so it will be a good idea to expand it.”

Peter Holliman, Tory Wickford councillor agreed.

He said: “I think it’s excellent that it’s going through now.

“A big factor is it will mean a cleaner image for that area of the town.

“I know the old buildings were a bit of a mess and became dangerous.”

The historic buildings have a long history and some date back almost 200 years.

Documents by Basildon Borough History show one of the brick buildings was an old bank.

It dates to 1912 and it was the town’s first bank and owned by Barclay and Co, until 1947. There is a small white cottage that was the headquarters for the Wickford Home Guard, during the Second World War.

Last month safety concerns were raised after parts of one of the crumbling buildings fell onto a woman walking below. The Echo contacted the supermarket chain about the number of jobs the expansion will create, but didn’t receive an answer.