PLANS TO demolish a derelict supermarket have been submitted to a Hampshire council.

The former Budgens Supermarket located in Upper Northam Road in Hedge End is set to be knocked down.

A notification for its demolition has been submitted to and granted by Eastleigh Borough Council.

The proposed demolition date for the two-storey building is January 6, 2020.

According to the council it is still working on a plan and considering its options for the supermarket which has been derelict for over 3-years.

As previously reported by the Echo, the council bought the site last year to stop it being turned into flats.

It was bought for an “undisclosed sum”, with council leader Keith House claiming developers were “vexatious and hostile” when applying for planning applications to turn the site into dozens of flats.

Controversial plans to turn the former supermarket into 77 flats were thrown out – but developers Hedge End Holdings later resubmitted plans to build 93 flats in total.

Town bosses described the plans as a “monstrosity” – while residents raised concerns about the impact on parking, traffic, infrastructure and the character of the town.

At the time Cllr House said he could not confirm how much public money had been spent but he “believed it to be a commercially viable sum”.

He said: “Our policy is to release this level of information when a project is complete. But it won’t result in council tax going up or services being cut, and protects a key retail site for retail use. They were vexatious and hostile. We took the view that although the application went to appeal it was better to take control of the site.”

Cabinet Lead for Regeneration (South) Cllr Ian Corben said: “The acquisition of the site is great news for local people as it removes the threat of a wholly inappropriate development proposal. It also presents a vital opportunity to stimulate the redevelopment of Hedge End town centre by acquiring this significant asset.