M & S could soon be back

Marks and Spencer could be making a return to Bognor Regis town centre.

The Observer can reveal that the iconic national retailer is among those being put forward as possible occupiers of a new store.

Its Simply Food brand is seen as providing an ideal boost to the area after its regeneration.

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Another possible occupier put forward is Sainsburys. Both retailers would be returning to Bognor after almost 20 years' absence to provide a dramatic sign that the town centre was being revived.

Developer St Modwen Properties has proposed building a retail outlet on the new-look Hothamton site.

A food store is seen at the moment as the most likely use for the store. It is likely to measure several thousand square feet but would be smaller than the 20,000sq ft Morrisons on the opposite side of the Queensway.

A spokeswoman for St Modwen said the intended store was destined to have a national name. Talks with prospective occupiers were continuing.

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"We are talking to all the major quality retailers," she stated.

Bognor Regis Chamber of Commerce chairman and president Nick Stuart Nicolson has campaigned for Marks and Spencer to bring its expanding Simply Food chain to Bognor even if the firm was reluctant to re-open a department store in the town.

He has previously been told by M&S that a Bognor branch is a possibility. The firm has 187 Simply Food branches and wants to expand this chain to 400 locations.

He said: "It would be a real boost for the town if Marks and Spencer's decided to open up here again.

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"They are a major national retailer and their presence would send a signal that the town centre was a place in which to do business. I know people who travel to a Marks' branch just to buy the food, which is highly rated.

"Putting that into the town centre would attract those people into the area. Others would also want to shop in Marks to bring more life into an extended town centre.

"Those extra people being in the town would use other stores here as well to ensure that everyone benefits.

"Let's not forget Sainsbury's either. They would also be a welcome and very popular presence.

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"I remember when both those companies pulled out of the town. The effect on the town centre was dire.

"There was the feeling that the town was no good without them.

"M&S was replaced by Littlewoods but only after a while.

"If you ask anyone on the street, they would love to see M&S back here, with Sainsbury's not far behind."

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The prospect of M&S back in Bognor has been emphasised by Asda.

Asda's detailed planning statements about its proposed store at Oldlands Farm off the A29 Shripney Road examines other possible retailing sites around the town.

Among these is Hothamton. Asda's planning agent, Drivers Jonas, says in the application that the central location would be too small for a major food store.

But continues: "This would not prevent a small foodstore use '“ such as Tesco Express, Sainsbury's Local or Marks and Spencer Simply Food from opening within the scheme.

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"The capacity analysis shows that there is considerable capacity for convenience goods retail development within Bognor."

No one at Marks and Spencer was available to comment about the issue.

It was in 1990 when Sainsbury's and M&S left Bognor. Sainsbury's was the first in January with the claim its site in the Queensway, now The Hatter's Inn, was too small to be viable.

Before residents had the chance to recover from that blow it was the turn of M&S to leave in the August.

The shop, designed for the company in the 1930s, stayed empty for more than a year to cast a shadow over the rest of the London Road precinct.

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