Marks and Spencer has confirmed it intends to open a food hall in Sittingbourne.

Hot on the heels of last week's news that coffee chains Costa and Starbucks intend to move to the town, it is understood the company plans to move into the retail park.

An M&S spokesman said: “We can confirm that we will be opening an M&S Foodhall in Sittingbourne next year and look forward to providing more information as the new store progresses.”

The retail park is currently home to large national companies including Homebase, Currys/PC World and Halfords.

It was initially thought the firm was aiming to take up one of four new large units planned as part of Sittingbourne’s £46 million redevelopment.

Described as a “big box retail park” by Spirit of Sittingbourne, the consortium behind the massive regeneration, the new shops are proposed for the former Princes Street Depot that was occupied by waste disposal firm Biffa.

The two-and-a-half acre site borders Milton Road and Morrisons to the west and Eurolink Way to the north

The new retail units are part of the wider plan for the town which includes a seven-screen cinema, with an announcement on the operator expected imminently.

Spirit of Sittingbourne, Swale council’s development partner which includes U+I, formerly known as Cathedral Group, Essential Land and Quinn Estates, also plans to build seven new restaurants, a new 308-space multi-storey car park, a new town square and 215 apartments.

It is thought the development will lead to a £326m economic boost for the town over the next decade.

Sara Seabridge, a member of the town’s retail association, said she was looking forward to M&S opening.

“You see those adverts and think ‘If only we had an M&S’ and now we’re getting one,” she said.

“It’s good news. It’s one of the ones I was hoping we would get. If we get one like that in town it’s more likely to attract others.

“It would be nice it we could get more clothing retailers next.”

Two buildings on the former Princes Street Depot will be demolished and replaced with two single-storey structures, totalling more than 3,000 square metres of floorspace.

They will be served by 105 parking spaces. While initially being single-storey, they will be designed so mezzanine floors can be added at a later date.

Traffic will access the new units from Eurolink Way, while a path for pedestrians is planned via Milton Road.