Plans outlined for new M&S store in Sussex village
Proposals are being outlined to open a new Marks & Spencer store in a Sussex village.
The plans – said to be in the preliminary stages – are for an M&S Foodhall to be built on land off the A29 Stane Street in Billingshurst.
An outline of the proposals is to be presented at a meeting of Billingshurst Parish Council tonight (July 3) by planning consultants ELG Planning and developers Bride Hall Developments.
The proposed new M&S – with 239 parking spaces – would be accessed via the existing Stane Street roundabout which serves the village’s Lidl store and Billingshurst Trade Park.
ELG Planning, outlining the proposals in a statement to the parish council, says that M&S has “a strong requirement for a store in Billingshurst which would complement existing stores in the surrounding area and will meet a gap in provision and service needs of those customers living and working in or close to Billingshurst.
"The proposals represent a substantial capital investment in the local area and will generate a large number of job opportunities for local people across a range of roles with oppportunities for training and career progression.”
It says the proposed new M&S Foodhall “will offer local customers a fresh offer with a brand new look store designed with customers and local families at its heart providing a convenient and high quality modern format shopping destination.
"The proposed store will be almost entirely for the sale of convenience goods together with M&S flowers and plants range with a very small non-food range, for example cards and stationery.” It says that 95 per cent of goods on sale will be M&S own brands.
It adds: “Local customers can expect to find an exciting range of fresh produce, flowers and fresh baked bread and pastries. M&S Food offers thousands of quality and great value products, from daily essentials like RSPCA Assured milk to 100 per cent resonsible sourced fish and seafood and 100 per cent British beef, chicken, duck and fresh pork from M&S Select Farmers.”
A number of local residents have taken to social media to express delight at the proposed new store. One said: “Finally some nice food.” And another added: “Excellent, it gets my vote.”