This is how Bridgwater's new M&S Foodhall could look

The new foodhall, which although the exact date is yet to be revealed, is scheduled to later in spring, will occupy the former Buyology site on the retail park.

The plans show the modern design for the Food Hall which will create new jobs for the town and include customer toilets and baby-changing facilities.

A spokesperson for M&S said: "I can confirm that M&S is planning to bring a Foodhall to Bridgwater Retail Park.

"We don’t have exact timings, but it’s scheduled to open early spring 2018.

“We’re looking forward to opening a new M&S Foodhall in Bridgwater and being part of the community.

"The store will offer customers the very best of M&S’s high quality food and drink, including a wide selection of innovative fresh produce and indulgent seasonal dining ideas."

There are currently roadworks along The Leggar as part of phased work to improve The Clink and The Drove taking place until late August.

Improvements include create new two-metre-wide footpaths and cycleways between The Leggar and Quantock Terrace.

There will also be a new mini-roundabout created on The Leggar, as well as work to create a new priority way on The Leggar.

Work is also due to be carried out on the traffic lights on The Clink.

The area has been beset with major plans as the Northgate car park was closed for nearly a year as Wessex Water constructed a storm-water storage tank.

For a number of years there has been a proposal to create a road link between the northern end of The Leggar and The Drove in order to provide another route out of Bridgwater town centre towards the A38 Bristol Road and to provide some relief to the Cross Rifles junction where The Clink meets the A38 and the A39.

This road proposal has the support of both Sedgemoor District Council and Somerset County Council and appears in the Local Transport Plan.

There are plans for a number of amendments to the existing retail park with plans to give the current shops a new look with additions of canopies and fascias.

Meanwhile there is also set to be development on land to the north and east of the existing retail park.

The expansion is expected to lead to the creation of 220 full time jobs for the town as well as number of temporary jobs during the construction phase.

A spokesman for developer NJL Consulting said: “The proposed development would clearly be a major employer and provide a boost to the local economy.”

“The proposals will benefit the area through delivering much-needed re-use of a long-term vacant site. This proposal will make the area more attractive to other commercial operators, thereby encouraging re-occupation of other vacant sites nearby, which can in turn result in further job creation.”

The plans would also see the current Lidl store demolished with a new Lidl foodstore created on the new area of the retail park.

There would be up to 18 new stores in total on the Bridgwater Retail Park once work is complete.