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A new Co-op is set to open on the site of a former golf club, it has been revealed.
Quinn Estates has confirmed that it has struck a deal with the chain to move into shop space on its 97-home site off the Thanet Way in Herne Bay.
The store is expected to open its doors to customers by December next year.
The new 372 sq m store at Eddington Park will cost Co-op about £600,000 and create 18 jobs.
Quinn Estates head of sales John Wilson-Holliday said: “It will open at the end of next year.
“We are going to start the first phase of building the homes in January. People will start moving into them in the middle of 2021 and they will be completed in early 2022.”
Plans to build on the site – which also included almost 1,200 sq m of offices and a gastro pub – were given the green light by council chiefs in April.
Afterwards, Mark Quinn, who runs Quinn Estates, told KentOnline he was in negotiations with a “major fitness operator” to move onto the plot along with a potential client for the tavern.
But Mr Wilson-Holliday says the firm is yet to agree a deal.
“We are in active talks with a few gym companies and a pub operator,” he said. “The talks are close.”
Mr Wilson-Holliday also says the Co-op decided to open a store on the site after plans for a store at the former Plough Inn in Margate Road fell through.
Quinn Estates had a number of bids to build on the land refused by the city council.
The first was a scheme to build 119 flats – with about 20 costing just £100,000. A second application to build 97 on the plot was submitted to the local authority last year, but also rejected.
However, his latest bid was unanimously approved by councillors – despite Braid Drive residents voicing their concerns.
The new development will join the 572 properties currently being built and the sports hub on the former golf course by Redrow.
Mr Wilson-Holliday added: “The new store will play an equally important part in building this new community.”
