Construction has started on the new M&S store which is being built at Eclipse Park, off the Bearsted Road, near Junction 7 of the M20.

The store is scheduled to open in the summer of 2020.

The building will have 84,044 sq ft of floorspace and will sell clothing and home goods as well as having a foodhall and café. It will create up to 300 jobs.

The property being built by Gallagher Properties who will lease it to M&S.

Pat Gallagher, chairman of the Gallagher Group, said: “This project highlights the full ‘start to finish’ capabilities of Gallagher Group, with our different companies all working together to deliver a major new store for this highly-respected retailer.”

M&S joins Next Home & Fashion, which opened a store at Eclipse Park in 2014 and now incorporates Virgin Holidays, Paperchase and Costa Coffee.

Once the new building is completed, the retailer is planning to shut its womenswear branch in Maidstone's Week Street.

County Councillor Ian Chittenden (Lib Dem) said: “Bearing in mind the problems we often get with building sites, it's nice to be able to say ‘well done’ to Marks and Spencers and the contactors, Gallaghers.

"Construction is clearly being well managed with areas on site and adjacent to the site kept clean with particular consideration for the public using public roads and other areas."