SHOPPERS in part of east Ipswich are to get a new supermarket for their area.One of the Co-op stores, in Foxhall Road, is to be replaced by a new building, with a trading area twice as big, to serve homes in the area.

SHOPPERS in part of east Ipswich are to get a new supermarket for their area.

One of the Co-op stores, in Foxhall Road, is to be replaced by a new building, with a trading area twice as big, to serve homes in the area.

The new shop will be built in a yard behind the present one, from where the company has been trading for more than 100 years. This converted Victorian building will be demolished when the new store is completed.

Bill Knowles, assistant general manager of the Ipswich and Norwich Co-op, said the present supermarket will remain open while the new one is built behind it.

"We're doing this so we don't have any breaks in service to our customers," he said.

"It will mean we have a complicated building exercise but we wanted to make sure the store was able to remain open."

A handful of off-road parking spaces will also be created outside as a result of the development, although it is thought most customers will walk there from nearby homes.

Ipswich council's development control committee is set to debate the proposal at its meeting next week – and officers are recommending they approve the application.

If given the go-ahead, building work on the project is set to start some time in 2004 and be completed in 2005.

Mr Knowles added: "We want to maintain a high level of service along this parade of shops and we hope to have the new store completed as quickly as possible."

There are currently two Co-ops in Foxhall Road. The one under consideration for development is at 34, Foxhall Road, near to Grove Lane.