A FOOD retailer has gone back to the drawing board after the failure of its plans to rebuild a Poole store destroyed by fire.

The Co-op has now withdrawn proposals for its site in Blandford Road, Hamworthy, but reiterated its commitment to providing a permanent store.

However nearly three years after a mysterious blaze destroyed the supermarket, residents are still shopping in a temporary, scaled-down version of the store.

Poole planners granted permission for a £2.5 million replacement 8,000 sq ft store and three-storey block of eight flats on the land in the heart of Hamworthy in February 2009.

A subsequent planning application for a smaller store of 5,445 sq ft, was refused in January this year. Residents’ associations complained that it was too small for their needs and councillors felt it did not make best use of the site.

The Co-op downsized its store because of “additional retail provision” in the area – competition from a Lidl store half-a-mile along the road.

A separate application for a block of nine flats on the north end of the site has now been withdrawn along with the re-submission for the store.

The retailer is now considering “all development options” according to a letter from agents Roger Tym and Partners, in an application for a second extension for the temporary store.

A Co-op spokesman said: “The Co-operative remains committed to building a permanent replacement food store in Hamworthy, and is working closely with Poole Borough Council to identify a scheme which will meet our requirements as well as those of the local community.

“In the meantime we have submitted an application to extend the use of our existing, temporary store until April 2012.

“This is to give us time to continue our discussions with Poole Borough Council.”