A discount department store is set to move into the building left empty by Marks & Spencer more than a year ago.

It is believed that B&M stores, which has branches in Canterbury, Sheppey and Dover, is in negotiations with estate agents CBRE over a lease for the building in New Road.

Prime real estate space, the former M&S has been listed for £3m on CBRE’s website since July. It closed last September after a century of trading and has remained unused since.

The nature of the lease and the length of time set is not known but there could be maintenance issues as one floor of the building is thought to have asbestos.

B&M has the slogan “Big Brands Big Savings” and sells a goods ranging from toys and sofas to stereos and chocolate.

A new department store is sure to be welcomed by Gravesend shoppers, many of whom are still pining for such a business since Army & Navy, now Primark, closed in the 1990s.

However, the discount element of B&M may cause some local concern with the town centre already having six such shops. Bargain Buys on is the corner of King Street, Poundland and Wilko are both in the Thamesgate Shopping Centre, and Poundstretcher and 99p Stores occupy the St George’s Shopping Centre as well as another larger branch of 99p Stores in the Imperial Business and Retail Park.

M&S owns the building but since announcing the branch closure, the high street chain had kept tight-lipped on what the future would hold.

The 52,302 sq ft space is described on CBRE’s website as a “prime retail building arranged over four floors, with two trading floors.”

It also said: “The premises are available by way of a new 15-year full repairing and insuring lease at a quoting rent of £280,000 per annum exclusive.

“Alternatively, the freehold is available at a quoting price of £3,000,000.”

Many people were sad to see the store close, including then 93-year-old Vera Purll who along with the Gravesend Messenger campaigned to keep it open.

Mrs Purll got 800 people to sign her petition which was added to 2,000 names collected by the Messenger and handed to Marks & Spencer bosses.