Developers have withdrawn their plans for a new supermarket in an historic Suffolk town.

Planners at East Suffolk Council had advised Hans House Finance Company Ltd, of Metfield, to withdraw its application due to a lack of progress since submitting three years ago and ownership changes at the site.

The council was also awaiting supporting information and amendments to the plans.

The original application had been submitted in October 2020, but no progress had been made and the council had not made a decision on the plans.

READ MORE: New supermarket could be built on prime town centre site

A spokesperson for the council said: “Due to unresolved statutory consultee objections, changes in site ownership and no further information being submitted since 2020, the applicant has withdrawn the application today.”

No operator had been identified for the store when the original plans were submitted, which would have been built behind the Thoroughfare and off Saxons Way.

READ MORE: Historic England lodges objection to town's supermarket project

However, residents commenting on Facebook forums seemed broadly in favour of the supermarket – with a number hoping for a Lidl or Aldi to move in.

The single-storey supermarket was set to be 1,894sqm in size and would create 30 new jobs.

Years ago the site was earmarked by Tesco for a store and later as a Waitrose.

READ MORE: Halesworth news

The plans also proposed a 236-space car park – an increase of 81 spaces on the number currently available – with paths to the Angel Link car park and footpaths to the Thoroughfare.

Agents AML Architecture Ltd said there was a “perceived need” for a food store in the town centre.

READ MORE: Suffolk news