Homes for store site?

NEW homes could be developed as part of a makeover of a former Clevedon supermarket.Local development company The Valiant Land Company has bought the Millcross store for an undisclosed figure believed to be close to the asking price of £2.5 million.The 2.5-acre site includes the store, which closed in March, several adjoining shops, community hall and surrounding car parks.Developers confirmed this week they would be looking at the possibility of incorporating a number of new homes as part of the development of the site.Ian Thompson, director of The Valiant Land Company Ltd, one of the joint venture partners in the deal, said: "We had to act quickly against several competing offers but we are pleased to have the opportunity to regenerate the Crabtree Park site."Although we do not complete the purchase until mid August, it will be our immediate priority to tidy up rubbish accumulated since the store closure and cut the grass to make it as safe and attractive as possible while consultations with the council, which are still at a very early stage, are completed."It is our intention to complete a major refurbishment, including recladding what is currently a rather tired building and seek tenants, such as a replacement small foodstore, as quickly as possible to serve the local catchment and the new 20 acre business park proposed at Kenn."This site could incorporate a number of new homes and we will look closely at this and how they can be integrated in a mixed use scheme."Mr Thompson stressed that any development of the building would retain the Crabtree Community Hall,He added: "All our options include the retention, refurbishment and enhancement of the Crabtree Community hall."We believe this is an important ingredient in the overall mix which we wish to encourage and support.