A supermarket has opened in a derelict shop that had lain empty for years.

Food Plus, a Polish franchise with stores in England, Scotland, Wales, Germany and the Netherlands, opened a branch at 31-33 Collier Row Road, Romford, last Saturday (March 16).

The Food Plus team confirmed the store's opening today (March 22) after readers on Facebook had noticed the vacant premises had finally been filled.

According to Havering Council's planning portal, the last submitted proposal, P0542.09, was for a change of use for a leisure facility, made around 15 years ago in 2009. The last known use of the premises was not listed.

Romford Recorder: The premises at 31-33 Collier Row Road as of October 2022 were still vacant and derelictThe premises at 31-33 Collier Row Road as of October 2022 were still vacant and derelict (Image: Google)

The 2009 plans were classed as a "lapsed application" and work did not commence. 

In October 2022, a Google Maps view shows the premises derelict with grafitti on the windows and rubbish strewn outside its doors.

Food Plus offers conventional products such as instant coffee, as well as Polish items such as brined cucumber.