Bringing M&S and more to Littlehampton
Plans to regenerate a brownfield site to create employment, bring investment and deliver much needed funding for the town centre will be decided by Arun Council's Planning Committee on Wednesday 22nd July. Please come to the Planning Committee meeting at 2pm to show your support.
281
Operational jobs – direct and indirect
£24.6m
Investment in Littlehampton*
88%
Support from local voters
575
Letters of support
“Our proposal will preserve and enhance the character of this site while delivering lasting economic benefits for Littlehampton through the creation of new jobs and investment into the town. The development has been carefully designed to complement, rather than compete with, the town centre and in doing so attract retailers that are not currently represented locally.”
- Matthew Hall, Hallway Properties -
Jobs and Investment
Economic benefits
The proposals represent a £24.6m investment in Littlehampton on a brownfield site which has been vacant since October 2024. With no prospect of being redeveloped for industrial or office use, the proposals will bring the site back to life with new retailers and new jobs.
The construction itself will create an expected 138 local jobs on site and in the supply chain. If permitted in July, retailers could be open and operating in late 2027.
Town centre support
We will use binding planning conditions, and a £1,270,500 package of support for Littlehampton and Rustington town centres, to address concerns regarding impact. Key to this is Lidl committing to operate both stores for a minimum of five years.
The package matches the District and Town Council’s request and will fund a series of town centre improvements and a full-time town centre manager for Littlehampton and Rustington.
281
Operational jobs – direct and indirect
£24.6m
Investment in Littlehampton
£820,000
Total business rates 2028/29
Re-use
of vacant brownfield
site
£1.27m
Town Centre support
138
Construction jobs
onsite & supply chain
“It was considered that the proposals would widen the retail offer in the area without impinging on the town centre businesses. It was also thought that the plans had the potential to attract more visitors to the area and allow the continued expansion of independent businesses in the town centre which was increasingly becoming the focus of hospitality and smaller local businesses”
- Littlehampton Town Council response to the application -
Overwhelming local support
Our plans enjoy overwhelming support from voters across Littlehampton. In a survey undertaken as part of the public consultation 88% of 2,987 respondents were in favour of the plans – before M&S was even announced.
88%
In favour/strongly in favour of more choice
575+
Letters of support
87%
Likely to visit the new food stores once open
95%
Respondents living in Littlehampton
2,987
Unique respondents
“Our proposal will preserve and enhance the character of this historic site while delivering lasting economic benefits for Littlehampton through the creation of new jobs and investment into the town. The development has been carefully designed to complement, rather than compete with, the town centre and in doing so attract retailers that are not currently represented locally.”
- Comment from the Planning Portal 31/10/25 -