DETAILED plans for the approved multi-million pound Asda food store development in Christchurch are “well advanced”.

Developer Quantum, whose development at Bailey Drive, off Barrack Road was approved in 2012, says they hope to submit their reserved matters application for the supermarket “very shortly”.

It comes just days after an appeal was lodged by Morrisons over Christchurch Borough Council’s refusal to grant them permission for a supermarket at Beagle Technology off Stony Lane.

And inspectors recently granted an appeal for the developers of Meteor Retail Park at Somerford, to amalgamate two proposed retails units on the site into the main food store, without increasing the size of the total retail space.

David Hines, chief executive of Quantum said: “We are well advanced with our detailed discussions with Christchurch Borough Council and anticipate submitting our reserved matters application very shortly.

“We remain hugely excited about delivering the new supermarket, affordable housing, new bridge and opening up the riverbank for amenity usage.”

The development on the former MOD site next to the river will include a food store, affordable housing, new bridge access, ferry access linking the town centre and west of Christchurch.

The developers have also offered £1million for the Christchurch Foundation Trust.

Prior to the planning meeting earlier this year to decide on plans for both Morrisons and the Meteor site, Quantum said Asda would withdraw from the Bailey Drive scheme if either plans were approved.

When both were refused permission they confirmed their intent to forge ahead with the plans, saying they hoped to be on site later this year.

It is anticipated the scheme will create up to 300 jobs.