Brian Macreadie at the site of the proposed new $4 million IGA Bridport Supermarket.

May 14, 2025

Supermarket shopping precinct plans

Plans for a new $4 million supermarket and shopping precinct in Bridport have been unveiled with a development application lodged for assessment with Dorset Council.

The Macreadie family has spent the last year finalising concept plans for the project, which will see the existing IGA transformed into four retail tenancies and a new supermarket constructed.

Two houses adjacent to the current supermarket will be demolished to make way for the development, including associated driveways and carparking.

Off-street car parking will increase from seven to 32 and include two electric vehicle charging bays and one accessible car bay, 20 bicycle and two motorbike parking bays.

Plans also show the construction of a public toilet on the site.

Manager Brian Macreadie said if approved, building was expected to start towards the end of 2026 and would take around a year to complete.

The existing supermarket will continue to operate as is while construction of the new building takes place.

“I think the only down time will be when we are moving everything to the new supermarket,” Mr Macreadie said.

Plans are available on the Dorset Council website for viewing and public submissions over the next two weeks.

“I can see that the town is ready for it, and I think the town needs it,” Mr Macreadie said.

“When people come in from Launceston they expect a bit more.

“Honestly, I think it will be welcomed. Especially because we are not knocking the old supermarket down because there is a lot of history in it and it would be sad to see it go.

“I think the fact that we will get more car parks and more range in our shop I think it will make it more comparable to a bigger store and hopefully people will enjoy that.

“It is, at the end of the day, for the town and we hope people like the decision.”

The Macreadie family have progressively bought the three titles that encompass the development envelope and also own the “bottom shop” which they purchased from John Hosken at the start of this year.

“It seemed like a no-brainer when John approached us to offer it for sale,” he said.

“It was a rare opportunity, so we hope that plays out well.

“I don’t have much to do with that because my sister Amelia manages it, but we are planning on keeping it going. It runs nicely and is a good quick-stop
shop. We may have more impulse convenience buys like it used to be, but we won’t change anything drastically.”