HALF a dozen companies and individuals have already expressed serious interest in taking over Waitrose's soon-to-be-vacated premises in Westbourne, Bournemouth.

The company recently announced that it is to shut up shop at the Seamoor Road site in October and move to Morrisons in Ashley Road, Upper Parkstone.

A Waitrose spokesman said the reason for the move was to expand.

"We are significantly increasing trading space.

"Parkstone is more than double the size of Westbourne," he said.

Chartered surveyors Gooch Cunliffe Whale are handling the sale of the lease, which expires on December 24, 2009.

Director Keith Whale said: "It's a prominent site and an important part of Westbourne.

"There's a whole range of people looking at it as a whole and in part.

"Waitrose wants to dispose of it as soon as possible so that the site remains empty for as short a time as possible. There's nothing worse than an empty shop."

Mr Whale said interested parties included at least one food store operator and the owner of the freehold, who is a private individual.

"He is going to be in a good position to take it forward and relet.

"We are aiming to bring things to a head in early September.

"The Waitrose board will consider and agree to accept, or to offer to market it for a longer period.

"They will look hard at their responsibility.

"If they are assigning a property with three years left on the lease at a high rent, they want to make sure the person can afford to pay it."

Westbourne residents are campaigning for another food store on the premises and are anxious to ensure it is not turned into offices or flats.

Council spokesman Joe Harrison said: "The site is located within the designated core shopping area of Westbourne and any planning application would be assessed against the relevant policies of the local plan."

Waitrose is part of the Westbourne "core shopping area", which means planning permission would be granted for another A1 retail use.

A change of use to A2, financial and professional services, or A3, restaurants and cafes, could be allowed under some circumstances, but the current lease does not permit non-A1 use without the landlord's permission.