Upmarket chain Marks & Spencer is returning to Woolwich.

M&S Foodhall is set to open a new store as part of the Royal Arsenal Riverside development, by Berkeley Homes.

The outlet will be located in Cadet House, in Beresford Street, which will be a stone’s throw from the new Crossrail station, due to open in 2018.

The high-end store will return to Woolwich after the Powis Street branch closed its doors in September 2014, following head office’s announcement they were going through a period of ‘restructuring’.

At the time, a council spokesperson told News Shopper: “We are shocked at this bizarre decision and extremely disappointed that Marks and Spencer did not discuss it with us.”

MORE TOP STORIES But there were rumours the big brand would return with the onset of Crossrail, which is set to ferry 15 million passengers per year when up and running.

After the announcement by M&S yesterday (February 24) confirming the new store, Cllr Denise Hyland, leader Greenwich Council, welcomed the news.

She said: "We shared the disappointment of local residents when Marks & Spencer departed Woolwich town centre 18 months ago, and have kept in close contact with the company since then.”

Rob Morray, head of property planning from M&S, added: "We're looking forward to returning to Woolwich to join this exciting new development and serve both the local residents and commuters".