West Sussex supermarket demolition almost complete – to make way for new 130-bedroom hotel

The former Waitrose store, in Anchor Springs, is being removed to make way for a new 130-bedroom Premier Inn hotel

Drone pictures and video taken by photographer Eddie Mitchell show that after three months of work, two thirds of the site is completely gone.

Jordan Tomkinson, construction project manager at Whitbread, said: “Work to bring a new Premier Inn to Littlehampton continues to progress well. Dorton Group, our demolition contractor, began clearing the site in mid‑November and has continued to move at pace.

“Around two thirds of the former supermarket building has now been removed, and we expect the demolition phase to complete in early spring.

“In parallel, we are in advanced discussions with a principal contractor, with a view to starting construction of the new hotel in April.

“We’re very grateful for everyone’s continued patience as we carry out this essential work – we appreciate it can be a disruptive process.

“When the hotel opens, we’re confident it will make a positive, long‑lasting contribution to Littlehampton which we’re very excited about.”

Arun councillors unanimously approved proposals for the new Premier Inn at a meeting held in August, 2025.

The hotel will have an associated restaurant, parking and landscaping, bringing new jobs and investment to the area.

The former Waitrose store has been vacant since its closure in 2015. Whitbread said its proposed redevelopment of a new Premier Inn seeks to revitalise this prominent location, bringing it into long-term use and enhancing the town centre, while meeting the growing demand for high-quality, affordable hotel accommodation on the south coast.