Plans for more than 156 new student flats on the site of a former Marks and Spencer store in Brighton have been approved - but it is unclear what will happen to shops currently in the building.
Poundland and Iceland, which are currently based at the site in London Road, say they have no plans to go anywhere any time soon.
A spokesman for Iceland told The Argus that "the lease on our London Road store in Brighton runs until September 2022 so we will be continuing to trade there at least until then, and hopefully for longer".
And a representative for Poundland said the company was "not party to any planning application from their landlord".
He added that Poundland "currently has no plans to leave the location, and its lease is still in force".
Mystery surrounds the future of a Poundland and Iceland store after plans to demolish their building in London Road, Brighton, were approved
The McLaren Property development was approved at a Brighton and Hove City Council planning committee meeting last week, with plans to demolish the existing structure and replace it with a five-storey block of student flats. This would include new retail floorspace.
There are currently Peacocks, Iceland and Poundland stores within the former Marks and Spencer building.
It is believed that the Peacocks store's fate is sealed, with the store displaying "closing down sale" signs in its window ahead of the third national lockdown.
Mystery surrounds the future of a Pounndland and Iceland store after plans to demolish their building in London Road, Brighton, were approved
Last October it was was discovered that Peackocks' owners, the Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group, were on the brink of collapse.
Last month, Edinburgh Woollen Mill was saved after a deal was secured to rescue the brand and another of its sister businesses, Ponden Homes, from disappearing for good.
But Peacocks, which is also a sister brand to Edinburgh Woollen Mill, remains in administration.
The Argus contacted McLaren Property for comment on the future of the three stores within the former Marks and Spencer building, but received no response.
The McLaren Property website says the development will play a part in "regenerating the area".
It states: "The new retail units will be more attractive to new tenants, so would reduce the likelihood of them falling empty when the current leases expire.
Mystery surrounds the future of a Pounndland and Iceland store after plans to demolish their building in London Road, Brighton, were approved
"The council has classed the site as being in the New England Quarter and London Road Development Area and is encouraging redevelopment of the site.
"The redevelopment provides the opportunity to create a new high-quality building at 5-8 London Road."
The timescale for the development is currently unclear.
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