A popular shopping centre has been taken over by a commercial property giant.

Praxis Holdings Limited has taken over the Grove Shopping Centre, in The Grove, Witham, from previous owners.

The new owner is a retail investment firm and holds a portfolio of shopping centres, office spaces and development sites across the UK.

The company’s move into Witham could mean big things for the future of The Grove Shopping Centre, however the new manager would not confirm its plans for the future.

Praxis said it was looking forward to starting work at the centre, but bosses said they could not “comment further at this time”.

The Grove Shopping Centre opened in 1988 and currently offers 95,000sq ft of retail space, about the size of one and a half football pitches, which is anchored by a 40,000sq ft Tesco store.

There are 25 units in the Grove Centre, occupied by retailers such as Superdrug, Poundland and Shoezone.

Permission was approved in April to create two new units at the centre as well as revamp the entrance.

Former centre manager Wendy Harlow is understood to have left her post and has been replaced by a representative from Praxis Holdings Limited.

Tina Townsend, chairman of Witham Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the new owners of the shopping centre to the town and thanked the previous management for their hard work.

“The Chamber of Commerce wish the previous management at the Grove well and look forward to working with the new team in the future,” she said.

The Grove Shopping Centre offers 369 car parking spaces free of charge to its customers.

Visit www.groveshopping.co.uk.