A SUPERMARKET giant has pulled out of plans for a new store in Southampton after three years of delays.

The Daily Echo can reveal that Morrisons will now not be opening the new store in Centenary Quay, which would have employed more than 200 people.

It is the second time the company has pulled the plug on a major development in Southampton in a year leading to criticism by one of the city’s MPs.

The new store had been due to sit at the heart of the £500 million Centenary Quay complex in Woolston.

As reported, Morrisons announced in 2013 that they would open the 60,000sq ft store at the development.

It had been due to open in November last year before that was pushed back to April this year, sparking concerns among residents and community leaders.

Last year Morrisons pulled out of plans for a supermarket on the site of the former East Street Shopping Centre in the city centre.

Now, despite the firm telling the Daily Echo it was carrying out a review of new stores, developer Crest Nicholson has confirmed that Morrisons has pulled the plug on its plans for a Centenary Quay store as well.

A spokesman for Crest Nicholson said: “We are extremely disappointed to have been notified that Morrisons has decided not to open its planned store in the retail unit at Meridian Circus, Centenary Quay.

“We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused to residents and the local community. As a priority, we are now working closely with the local council and Morrisons, as the owner of the store, to source an alternative occupier as soon as possible.

“The retail unit offers a fantastic location and would offer an important service to residents at Centenary Quay and the wider Woolston area. We would like to thank residents and the local community for their patience during this period.”

Southampton Itchen MP Royston Smith had called on Morrisons to make their position clear.

Now he has said: “I am very disappointed in the behaviour of Morrison’s especially pulling out of Centenary Quay at this late stage.

“Local residents were promised much from the development of Centenary Quay but currently all they have had is the disruption during the building works.

“I hope the city council have another operator who is ready to step in and open this store as soon as possible for the good of everyone.”

Woolston councillor and city council deputy leader Warwick Payne said he was “hugely disappointed”, adding that the firm had made a “grave error”.

The Woolston councillor also said that because of the delay in the build, smaller shops which are set to surround the supermarket won’t be able to be built before the large stores because they wouldn’t attract enough footfall on their own.

Resident Jeff Swatton, 70, said he was “disgusted” by Morrisons’ handling of the plans, while Helen Chambers said she was worried it would become a “forgotten town”.

Last night no-one from Morrisons was able to comment.