M&S superstore hailed as ‘great for Maidstone’
Maidstone is set to get a new Marks & Spencer superstore.
It will be at Eclipse Park and is a substitute for the planned Waitrose store there after the grocer pulled out.
The two-storey building will have 60,000 sq ft of sales space, and be one of just 10 new “inspiration” stores that the company is planning across the country.
It will sell homeware, clothes, have a food store and 300 parking spaces.
It is expected to create 200 full- time equivalent jobs and the project represents an investment of £25m.
Nick Yandle, managing director of Gallaghers Ltd, which owns the site, said: “This is tremendous news for Maidstone, especially after Waitrose dropped out, which was a big disappointment to everyone.”
Marks and Spencer plc is also planning to upgrade its men’s store in Week Street, Maidstone, but it is likely the women’s branch a few doors away will close when the company’s lease on the building runs out in 2022.
The 40 staff who work there will be offered a place at either the improved Week Street branch or the new superstore.
The company has already entered into pre-application discussions with Maidstone council and expects to submit a full planning application by Christmas.
The timetable would see construction begin in autumn next year, with the new store opening in autumn 2019.
Mr Yandle said: “The town would lose 10,000 sq ft of retail space from Week Street, but gain 60,000 sq ft at Eclipse Park.
“Marks & Spencer has chosen Maidstone over other towns in Kent, which is very exciting for Maidstone.”
The new building will be on the same footprint as the previously proposed Waitrose store which had already gained full planning permission in May.
Cllr Dave Naghi (Lib Dem), who represents East Ward on Maidstone council, which contains Eclipse Park, said: “This is wonderful news for Maidstone.”
Charlotte Hall, store manager at Marks & Spencer Maidstone, said: “We’ve been serving customers in Maidstone for over a hundred years and we’re really excited about our plans to open a new store at the Eclipse Retail Park, creating a bigger and better Marks & Spencer offer in the area. We’ll make sure we keep the community updated as plans progress.”