Opening delayed for new Largs M&S Foodhall development

The foodhall has received necessary planning permission and was due to open in spring 2024 - but there has been little in the way of activity at the site since March. 

Nearby residents have expressed concerns that anti-social youths have been targeting the development, which includes a disused office building. There was also a fire at the site in September. 

The News can reveal a spokesperson for M&S said the opening has been delayed for a third time but claimed workers are now back on site. 

A Marks and Spencer spokesperson said: “We’re pleased to confirm our developers are back on site after experiencing a delay to their programme.

“Our Largs store is now on track to be open for Christmas 2024 and we can’t wait to open our doors to local customers.”

Largs resident Allan Wright, who lives in a block of flats in Waterside Street beside the development, told the News that residents were getting frustrated with the recent lack of action.
 

The News understands that there has been a delay due to utility connections at the site having to be turned off, with works due to be completed at some point in the near future.

Mr Wright said: “We all know about this development but we don’t know why thee work has stopped for so long.

“The disused office building was set on fire and it took two fire engines, and there was a third unit in the street, to attend to the blaze.

“And since then there have been kids who have been in a couple of times taking potshots at the glass. Nobody seems to know what is happening.

“After the project plan was put together and this was all supposed to have been sorted - we got a letter telling us about this - and it has been left like this since March this year.”

Speaking about the further delays, he said: “I am personally not impressed. The reason the site was cleared last August and businesses moved out, was because work was going to start immediately but it seems to have been red tape and a whole host of delays.

"Now we have another date change for when the project will be completed.

“We have been waiting and waiting, and now we are fed up of waiting.”

Mr Wright added: “We have been told that work is starting soon but we have continually been told that but I still don’t see any workers on site.”

Councillor Ian Murdoch welcomed the news that M&S is still investing in Largs. 

He added: “It will be a big boost to the local economy and will give us a much improved shopping experience - and is going to be a huge addition to the retail environment in Largs.”

Largs fire crews responded to a report of a blaze in the disused building at the site in the early hours of Tuesday, September 26 with police reportedly investigating the matter.

The store, which it is estimated will bring 50 jobs to the town, was originally expected to open in summer 2023, but the company later revised that to December, then spring of 2024, now Christmas.