PLANS have been submitted for Marks & Spencer signage on a New Milton building previously occupied by Co-op.

In August this year, Marks & Spencer said it was interested in opening a food hall at the site in Station Road, the town’s main shopping street, and this application all but confirms the move.

The application, submitted my Marks & Spencer plc, is for three internally illuminated 3D fascia signs, one internally illuminated box sign, one internally illuminated box billboard sign and eight trolley bay graphic signs.

A letter submitted by Lichfields on behalf of Marks & Spencer said: “Advertisement consent is sought for the following signs which relate to the proposed occupation of the retail unit by M&S.

“Signage is proposed for the unit and trolley bay shelters within the customer car park.

“The proposed signs advertise the presence of the store. They would not be detrimental in either an immediate or wider sense.

“The character and setting of the site is commercial as the site is within the primary shopping frontage area of New Milton town centre.

“It is in such an area that national guidance and advice advocates locating advertisements here.

“The proposed signage would be visible to customers within the car park and from Station Road. The new signage will be a visual improvement to the site.”

Smith Bradbeer & Co, which operates a department store on the opposite side of the road, bought the Co-op building in 2017, about 18 months after the supermarket ceased trading.

Back in August, Bradbeers was reported to have agreed terms with a "leading national retailer" that wanted to occupy the site.

At the time, an M&S spokesperson said: “We are interested in bringing an M&S Foodhall to New Milton and will keep the local community updated as plans progress.”

M&S already has stores at Lymington, Ferndown and Christchurch.