Co-op: Progress on Leale’s Yard ‘slower than expected’

However, Mark Cox remained hopeful that demolition work on the site would commence by the end of the year.

The brownfield site behind the Bridge was initially bought by the CI Co-operative Society back in 1998.

In April last year, plans were unveiled to develop more than 300 homes, a new Co-op food store, other retail space, a multi-storey car park for more than 300 vehicles and various civic and green areas.

The Development & Planning Authority gave outline planning approval in November, but with more than two dozen conditions.

The conditions incorporate parking, new road junctions, ecology plans, landscaping, external lighting and noise.

Mr Cox said that work was going on behind the scenes to satisfy the conditions imposed by the DPA.

‘Currently we are working to mitigate the environmental and habitat risks that have been raised in the conditions. This has included providing “housing” for the slow worm population on the site before they are relocated, for example. We want to respect the site and fulfil our obligations to the wildlife that lives there.’

He added that an application to demolish existing structures on the derelict site would be made shortly.

‘Hopefully work will start later this year. Due to the difficult economic situation we find ourselves in, we have had to be cautious in order to ensure that the project remains financially viable, but we remain committed and a lot of work is continuing to be done in the background.’