Argos wants to open store in town

But the national retailer is still interested in establishing a store in the town.

A spokesman for Argos told the Express: 'Argos can confirm it remains interested in opening a store in the Uckfield area.

'However, while the units available in the Market Hall development offered a good location they were not large enough to meet our size requirements.

'We will continue to search for an appropriate location in the area.'

Leon Barnes, spokesman for the developer, Ydris Overseas, said the development would not go ahead until a main tenant had been found.

'We must have a tenant lined up. We are not doing it on spec,' he told the Express.

Mr Barnes said he was still talking to Argos.

'The reason why they are not proceeding is because what we can provide is not what they want. We cannot provide the "floorplate" which meets their requirements,' he said.

Plans for the redevelopment offer more space at upper levels than at ground floor. Argos requires more groundfloor space.

Mr Barnes added that another look was being taken at the plans to see if they could be re-jigged.

Last year, when planning permission for the scheme was given,

The re-development is planned to be a three-storey building housing a restaurant on two floors, a gym, shopping parade and warehouse.

Small traders in the town feared the arrival of Argos saying it could 'suck the life out of the High Street and kill retailers'.

Francis Wallace, chairman of the Uckfield Chamber of Commerce, said, said: 'Everybody acknowledges that an anchor tenant is needed in a new development to make it attractive.

'If it's not Argos then it will have to be somebody else.

'It's hard to see a way forward unless another multiple concern takes a pre-let on the main unit.'

Jacob Vince, of Caxtons chartered surveyors, said: 'What we have currently at Bell Walk doesn't seem to be working but I feel big-name retailers will want to be in more sizable premises. Because of flooding risk this development needs to be elevated but that doesn't necessarily attract retailers.'