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More than 1,400 local residents have responded to M&S’ call to action by submitting a letter of support to Arun District Council to try to deliver plans for a brand-new M&S Food store.

It comes after M&S asked for residents to show their support last Friday, following a recommendation for refusal on the plans by the council’s planning officer, despite hundreds of letters of support from residents and Littlehampton Town Council.

M&S said it is looking to bring a fresh market-style foodhall offering its entire product range to Littlehampton, as part of the wider Watersmead Business Park.

You can shop M&S online, here.

Proposed Watersmead Retail Park, including M&S Food

placeholder image — Proposed Watersmead Retail Park, including M&S Food

If approved, the retail park, which also includes Lidl, B&Q, Home Bargains and Greggs, would regenerate the long term vacant former Body Shop site and create over 280 new local jobs.

The plans will be decided by Arun District Council’s Planning Committee tomorrow (Wednesday, July 22).

M&S is reminding its supporters that today is the last chance for residents to show their support; either by submitting a letter of support via the M&S Littlehampton website, contacting their local representative or sharing their support across channels.

Mike Devine, M&S Property team, said: “A massive thank you to everyone for their support so far, the response of residents has been fantastic. We are clear that we want to bring the best of M&S Food to Littlehampton from a show-stopping store, create over 70 new high quality local retail jobs and help transform a derelict and vacant site. With 24 hours to go, we are asking residents for their support again to call on the Council to get behind this multi-million-pound investment in Littlehampton.”

The Watersmead Business Park proposals also include an over million-pound town centre support package to create a new town centre manager role and support both Littlehampton and Rustington town centres.

Inside the proposed new M&S Food, customers would find an in-store bakery, offering a range of bread and pastries, fresh produce from M&S Select Farms (200 of which are based in the South East), a dedicated Click & Collect point for online fashion, home and beauty orders, and customer favourites such as the Nutrient Dense, Remarksable Value and Only… Ingredients ranges.

To shop M&S online, visit the website.