Morrisons in 'final stages' of plans for Peacehaven store

For many months, residents in Peacehaven have been calling for action on the long-delayed Morrisons shop which is set to be built on the former Meridian Centre site.

In February, Morrisons reiterated its commitment to the site with bosses saying they want Lewes District Council’s planning committee to consider the new plans by June.

In an update, Morrisons has confirmed it is in the final stages of refining its plans ahead of submitting them.

Residents have been calling for the store to be built for months

A spokeswoman for the supermarket chain said: "Our property team is currently in the final stages of refining its plans. 

“In order to address all the feedback we have received, the revised plans will now be submitted to Lewes District Council by mid-May, with hopes that the scheme will be brought before the planning committee as soon as possible after.

"This extra time will allow us to ensure the updates that we have made to plans closely align with local priorities and deliver the best possible outcome for the residents of Peacehaven."

Plans to replace the Meridian Centre in Peacehaven with a 27,000-square-foot Morrisons store were originally approved by Lewes District Council in April 2023, with work expected to start in September 2024.

In October 2025, Morrisons said it was still committed to the project but acknowledged the delays, citing supply chain issues and labour shortages.

A protest was held demanding Morrisons "build it or sell it" (Image: Ramy Abou-Setta/The Argus)

Since then, there has been mounting pressure from residents for the supermarket chain to progress with the project.

Chris Ward, MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, has also been particularly outspoken on the issue, having previously labelled the ongoing delays as “a farce”.

Mr Ward led a petition signed by more than 2,000 people and joined a protest in September demanding the chain “build it or sell it”.