This is the Willowdale Centre, and the proposal is to add TWO extra storeys over the New Look store (the old Coop) and add 24 flats, similar to the previous development by Urban Pulse on the other corner of the site.

Planning Application 06/00385/FULL from Metropolitan & County, is now under construction.

Proposed development for the Willowdale Centre. Below- as it was in 2007

The Wickford Action Group view
This development is in the Town Centre Masterplan area, but is NOT part of the plan. 

We note that the 24 flats is just one short of the 25 which would mean the developers would have to make a contribution to the town, for example by including affordable housing, under the S106 arrangement, even though a similar development for 24 flats has been completed on the same site! This was reported in the Echo on 10th July 2006

There is no extra parking facility for the new occupants, but we understand that they will be offered season tickets in the public car park, which means less parking spaces for the rest of us, with no benefits for existing residents. 

We also understand that the developer has made a £50,000 contribution to improve nearby pedestrian crossings, although 2 crossings have been in place for some time and we can't see how the £50,000 will be spent.