John Lewis to open new store at New St

JOHN LEWIS is to open a flagship 250,000 sq ft department store as part of the £600m Gateway redevelopment of New St Station.

Long rumoured to be a potential anchor tenant of the new retail development alongside the station refurbishment, John Lewis today confirmed it would open its new four-storey store in 2014.

More than 650 jobs would be created, said John Lewis Partnership managing director Andy Street.

He said: “It gives me great pleasure to confirm all the rumours that JLP  is coming to Birmingham.

“We will open a flagship shop for the West Midlands as part of the station development, showcasing around 350,000 products.

“This is the first new department store that we have announced for six years, and the first post-credit crunch announcement.

“The John Lewis Partnership has coveted a place in Birmingham for a long time.”