Plans to refurbish a Sainsbury’s store will benefit local businesses, according to traders.

The store in Torrington Drive, Loughton, will undergo a 12-week renovation starting in January, including increasing the capacity of its car park, if the plans are granted.

The company hopes to demolish units around the existing car park so that it can be enlarged as well as adding a lobby area to the store and changing the appearance of the store.

Dave Stannard, chairman of the Loughton town centre partnership, said: “Shoppers and traders welcome the move strongly.

“We have asked them to provided a pop-up shop during the work so that residents can still do their shopping.

“We would also like to see the car park managed so that Sainsbury’s customers will be reimbursed for their parking when they shop.”

Sainsbury's has said shoppers can go to the branch in Station Road, Loughton, during the refurbishment.

Kevin Taylor, owner of Taylors Cards in The Broadway, Loughton, said: “It will be great because it will keep people in the area and shopping in local businesses.

“The shops around the car park look awful and make it look like a run-down town so it will be good to get rid of them.”

Chris Armishaw, of Sainsbury’s store development department, said: “There’s a real community feel to this store and we were delighted by the response we got from customers and store colleagues."

A decision on the proposals is expected to be made before the end of the year.