Further details of plans for a Waitrose supermarket on the site of Van Hage garden centre in Great Amwell have been unveiled and will be displayed to the public next week.

It is understood that the proposed food store would be 25,000 sq ft, twice the size of the branch in Hertford, which is approximately 12,500 sq ft.

There would be meat, fish, cheese and patisserie counters as well as a coffee shop. The investment would also provide a new 100-seater bistro at Van Hage.

Waitrose director of development, Nigel Keen, said: “Waitrose has a long-standing ambition to open a shop in the area and believe the plans brought forward offer an exciting opportunity to deliver a quality food store alongside one of the area’s most popular shopping destinations.

“Delivering an improved Van Hage store together with a Waitrose supermarket can provide substantial benefits for the area, including more retail choice for local residents and new jobs.”

Apprenticeships, training, management and graduate schemes would be available at the store, which would also donate £12,000 a year to local causes nominated by customers.

Van Hage chairman and managing director Chris Roberts said: “We are delighted at the prospect of having a Waitrose join us at our Great Amwell store.

“The public exhibition will give the community an insight to the exciting plans for the development and will help us in our submission of a mutually beneficial planning application.”

Waitrose and Van Hage will now distribute newsletters to inform residents of the plans and ask for their feedback.

The public exhibition will be at the coffee shop in Van Hage, Pepper Hill, on Friday March 28 from 10am to 4pm and Saturday March 29 from 9am to noon.

Representatives will be on hand to answer questions and comments can also be registered from Friday March 28 at www.waitrosevanhage.co.uk.

Subject to feedback, the companies aim to submit a planning application this summer. If it is successful, it is hoped to complete the project during 2016.