60,000 sq ft superstore to create 150 jobs

Retailer Marks & Spencer has announced it will open a 60,000 sq ft store at British Land’s Giltbrook Retail Park in Nottingham next summer.

The announcement comes less than two weeks before M&S opens a major new store in Cornwall – it’s first clothing store opening in the South West for ten years.

Both stores are part of M&S’s store transformation plan, with the retailer closing, relocating, opening and renewing stores.

Alongside this, M&S is aiming to grow clothing online sales to a third of its total sales. This would be supported by its network of over 1,000 stores, where 70 per cent of online orders are already collected.

Up to 150 new and existing M&S staff will work at the new store in Nottingham with recruitment beginning in Spring 2020.

The store will complement M&S’s existing offering in Nottingham city centre.

Sacha Berendji, retail, operations and property director at Marks & Spencer, said: “Customers’ shopping habits are changing and so it’s important we change to reflect the way they want to shop – seamlessly integrating our in-store and online experiences. Excitingly, in Nottingham reshaping our store estate means opening a big new store next summer that can best serve our customer needs, alongside our High Street shop. Stores remain fundamental to how we serve customers and we can’t wait to open in this great location.”

Ben Grose, head of retail leasing at British Land, added: “Retailers continue to open stores in well located and well managed destinations that support omni-channel retail. We are delighted that M&S has chosen Giltbrook Retail Park to open one of its new, family-focussed stores. It is a testament to our strong asset management expertise and ability to create vibrant retail locations.”

Savills and Avison Young represented British Land and McMullen Real Estate acted for M&S.