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Helen Davies, Babergh councillor for Sproughton & Pinewood, which encompasses the site, told the meeting that ever since she had moved to the ward in 2011, the site had always been “a little bit run down”.

“It’s lain derelict for ages, and I think we are all well aware that the nature of shopping has changed,” she said.

“I try and make an effort to do my shopping physically, but I fail dismally at times, especially now, and it is a lot easier for us to go to an outside retail area because generally you can park pretty easily, so you can do your bigger purchases there.

“The site is rundown, it’s fenced off, it would be great to have it back into use, but I also feel we need to make certain that the Ipswich store is protected to a degree.”

She said she had felt some promise of this from M&S, but said there was still a risk.

Ipswich Borough Council, prior to the decision, said it was in support of the proposal.

In a letter within the planning documents, its head of planning and development acknowledged that while the new store would have an impact on the town centre, “there are reasons to be optimistic about the direct of travel in the town centre that will keep footfall and investor sentiment high”.