A new Marks and Spencer Foodhall could soon be built in Purley.

Initial plans show studio spaces for creative businesses would also be provided as part of a development.

Grove Property has outlined plans to transform the site of the former Milk and More depot between Brighton Road and Purley Park Road. The company has now moved its headquarters to Merton.

The developer is yet to submit a planning application to Croydon Council but has started an initial consultation on the plans.

The frontages of the existing three locally listed buildings would be restored and transformed into a new two-storey building for the new shop. The developers say the new store would include 70 car parking spaces for shoppers.

The plans include a new three storey “enterprise hub” at the back of the site. This would be made up of 20 small studios and two larger open-plan studios.

This would be let out as workspace which the developer said would be affordable and especially for those in creative industries.

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The site features three buildings with locally listed frontage which are currently in a poor state of repair. These will be retained, carefully restored, and brought into public use.

It is expected the new M&S store would create 50 jobs while 70 people would work from the hub.

On its consultation site, Grove Property said: “If approved, these proposals would deliver a two-storey building with an M&S Foodhall at ground floor level fronting Brighton Road, with 70 car parking spaces.

“To the rear fronting Purley Park Road would be a three-storey creative Enterprise Hub consisting of affordable studio spaces for local creative businesses. The proposed buildings are a similar height and scale as those currently located on site, ensuring the plans are in keeping with the existing streetscape.”

Grove Property is based in Fulham and the scheme has been designed by 3W Architecture.

It plans on submitting a full planning application this year and if approved would start construction work in 2024.