A much-loved retailer has made a shock decision to reverse long-held plans to open in the city centre.

John Lewis has announced that it will not be opening in North Street, Brighton.

Bosses have said they cannot create the shop they want given the extent of the building works which would be necessary.

But neither the company nor Brighton and Hove City Council have yet explained what stumbling blocks have been discovered since the company announced its intention six months ago to open a store in the site.

The retail partnership purchased the freehold of the building at 129-133 North Street, which currently houses a branch of Boots, in March 2015.

And last September it held an open consultation, teasing prospective customers with a vision of the blue-and-green-glass shopfront vision for what the coming John Lewis department store would look like.

But in a statement issued this afternoon, the partnership said: “We are disappointed to announce that we have decided not to progress our plans to open a John Lewis shop on North Street in Brighton.

“We acquired the site positive that we could build a John Lewis shop, but having explored all options we cannot deliver a shop on this site with the extent of demolition and rebuilding required. We are pleased to have secured a new lease with Boots, who wished to continue to trade in Brighton, so that the property will remain occupied for the long term.

“We would like to thank local people for their active participation in the consultation of our draft plans, as well as Brighton & Hove City Council for its very positive engagement through the planning process, despite our decision not to progress our plans.

“John Lewis owns the freehold of the site and will be putting 129-133 Queens Road on the market for sale shortly, with all its existing tenants in place. These include Boots, Krispy Kreme and First Choice.”

A spokesman for council leader Warren Morgan said: ““I share the disappointment that Brighton and Hove shoppers will no doubt feel at today’s announcement that John Lewis has decided not to progress with its plans for a new store in our city.

“The council fully supported the proposals for a new store which would have been a fantastic addition to our city centre and our work with John Lewis on the initial scheme has been recognised by the company as positive.

“Millions of visitors come to our city every year, all year long, and will continue to come because of the unique and niche shops in North Laines and the larger chain outlets in Churchill Square.

“From my conversations with local residents I’m sure that John Lewis would have succeeded in the city, but I’m also aware that retailers are very uncertain about consumer behaviour. Shopping trends are changing and John Lewis - like other retailers - is feeling the impact of what they themselves have called a ‘volatile market and profound structural changes” across the industry.

“We will continue to take forward our regeneration programme for the city centre which will build on current investment and support from the retail industry and which proposes the expansion of Churchill Square as part of the Waterfront redevelopment.

“And of course, there’s the new Ikea coming soon in the city region and the work on the new Hanningtons Lane which is returning the area to its former glory, revealing the historic Pugets Cottage and opening up a new Lane which will add to our unique retail offer to visitors and residents alike.

“Whatever the national and international conditions, Brighton & Hove is very much open for business.”