A 10,000 square metre shopping complex could be built in Loughton under plans being considered by the council.
It has been proposed that a retail park be built in Langston Road, close to Debden Station, in a joint development between the authority, which owns some of the land, and private company Polofind Ltd, in a move which could make them more than £30million.
Epping Forest District Council insists that the complex could boost employment in the region, but traders in the Broadway shopping area nearby have expressed concern that it could damage their businesses.
Suvhash Shah, manager of Tony's Hardware, said: “This will really get people's blood boiling if it happens. No doubt a lot of shops would be forced to close down. It's already hard and with this it will only get tougher, even if it takes five or six years to happen.
“It will hit trade 100 per cent. I'm sure the majority of traders here will be against it.”
Sharon Bolton, of the Party Shop, said: “It could kill Debden Broadway off completely. It might be good for the residents but it would be bad for the shops.”
Angela Whiston, of Flower Elegance, said: “I think if it's big stores it might bring trade this way but if it's going to be shops that might directly compete with places on the Broadway then it could kill us off.
“But if the retail park has stores like New Look or a PC World then it might be OK.”
Dave Stannard, chairman of the Loughton Broadway Town Centre Partnership, cautiously welcomed the plans.
He said: "It could be good in bringing in jobs and extra trade, but it all depends on the type of shops they have there.
"The council has assured us there won't be a supermarket but we'll have to keep a very close eye on it."
It is unclear exactly what types of shops could fill the space, but the council has suggested they could include outlets selling clothes, furniture, carpets, DIY and electrical equipment.
Council documents say it is not “intended” that a supermarket be built on the site, but smaller takeaways and restaurants have not been ruled out.
The authority will meet next Monday (July 19) for preliminary discussions into costs surrounding the organisation of any planning process, which would include an investigation into any possible effects on traffic congestion in nearby Chigwell Lane.
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