A DIY giant has drawn up fresh plans for a superstore at an exclusive harbour site after a previous bid was turned down.
B&Q is weeks away from submitting plans to build a 90,000sqft store in Eastbourne at Sovereign Harbour, the UK's largest marina complex.
Three years ago B&Q's plans for a bigger store on the same site were rejected after residents protested.
B&Q wanted to build a garden centre, builders' yard and 540-space car park, making it seven times the size of the Hampden Park B&Q.
It was turned down after councillors were presented with a 1,500-name residents' petition raising concerns about round-the-clock deliveries, traffic, noise and pollution.
Many nearby householders feared their homes, worth at least £150,000, would plummet in value.
Now B&Q is setting its sights on Sovereign Harbour again, but with a scaled-down plan.
Up to 250 jobs would be created by a builders' yard and garden centre on the North Harbour site, stocking 40,000 gardening and DIY products.
An application is thought to be ready to be submitted to Conservative-controlled Eastbourne Borough Council.
B&Q is holding exhibitions from 4pm to 8pm today and tomorrow at the Carillion office, Sovereign Harbour, when officials will answer questions about the proposals.
Paul Metcalfe, vice chairman of the Sovereign Harbour Residents' Association, which led opposition to the last plan, said: "Until we have seen what is being offered we haven't any views whatsoever."
A B&Q spokesman said: "We very much want to involve the community in this and we would like to see as many of them as possible at the exhibitions."
Thursday February 10, 2005
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