A plan to redevelop the derelict Oriental City site into homes and shops will “suit the needs” of the Chinese community, the developer says.

Development Securities, the owner of the site in Edgware Road which closed in June 2008 and has fallen into disrepair, wants to demolish the current building to make way for a new Morrison’s store, 223 townhouses and apartments and a replacement Oriental market and food court.

The company says it has been involved in discussions with the previous traders in the complex, who have long campaigned to be let back in after being kicked out for a much larger £450million redevelopment which fell through in 2009.

It told the Harrow Times : “Development Securities has been in discussions for some time with a number of representatives from the oriental and far eastern communities in north London, including former Oriental City tenants. 

“These discussions have helped to ensure that the new retail and community facilities are fit for purpose and suit the needs of these communities and the local area.

“If its planning application is successful, Development Securities will then be in a position to advance these discussions with prospective tenants of the new facilities.”

The nine-storey, 34,000 sq m new building would house a 600-seat food court selling Far Eastern cuisine, a 270-seat restaurant, 14 food outlets and 15 new shops and grocers, opening in 2014.

The new homes include 83 one-bed apartments, with homes surrounding a pedestrianised central avenue of townhouses with gardens and a children’s play area, with the first homes complete by 2016.

A total of 581 car parking spaces will be available for homeowners, tenants and shoppers coming to visit the new development, which the developer says would create 700 new jobs.

Jabez Lam, who led the campaign to save the original complex from closure of behalf of traders, has told a Chinese newspaper that the plan is a “fresh beginning” for the community.

He said: “In the past few years, about ten potential buyers expressed interest – none were successful to bring about a development agreement. 

“To bring new life to the site, we may need to readjust our thinking – this is not the old Oriental City, Oriental City no longer exists.

“This plan is a fresh beginning – it can bring good to the local Chinese community.  Former Oriental City traders also wish this site can be reopened to have Oriental shops and retail traders return to the redeveloped site.  We welcome the redevelopment.”

More than 800 employees lost their jobs when the centre closed and planned redevelopment, which would have included a primary school and new flats, fell through when the proposed £68m sale of the building fell through after the economic downturn.

The developer paid £1.4m in compensation to traders after forcing them to relocate for the failed project.