PLANS to expand Chipping Norton’s Co-op supermarket have been scaled down.

Designs for the scheme were approved by West Oxfordshire District Council last year, but the Midcounties Co-operative, which owns the store, has sent in a revised planning application.

Among the key changes is a move to drop a proposal to create a multi-storey car park.

The Co-op said this would reduce the impact on neighbouring houses and cut the construction period by two months.

But with a cut in the size of a planned extension to the shop, the number of parking spaces available will still almost double.

The chief executive of Midcounties Co-operative, Ben Reid, said: “We have taken the positive step to resubmit the planning permission for the extension to our Chipping Norton store to ensure that the investment will have minimum impact on the local area, while continuing to provide a much-improved retail offering to the community.

“We have deep roots in Chipping Norton, so we are determined to keep disruption to the town to a minimum while we’re making improvements to the store.

“The proposed scheme is a sympathetic design and layout that sits comfortably within the existing conservation area and respects the historical nature of the town centre.

“The plans include significant improvements to the larger parking areas with better access for customers, having taken the decision to remove the ramps and upper decks.”

The store occupies a site between Albion Street and High Street.

Work is already under way on the site to pave the way for construction under the terms of the existing planning consent, including demolition of buildings and walls that stand in the way of the development.

The revised plan maintains pedestrian links through to the High Street, where the Co-op’s pharmacy and travel agency will move into the extended supermarket.

Nash’s Bakery will take over the existing pharmacy premises and the travel agency shop will be turned into the new High Street entrance to the supermarket.