Plans revealed for Weymouth's new M&S superstore
Developers have submitted a planning application for the Weymouth Gateway site
Plans have been revealed for a new Marks & Spencer superstore in Weymouth, creating 45 local jobs.
The developers behind the regeneration of Weymouth Gateway, LondonMetric Property and Avercet Property, have submitted a planning application for the building at Weymouth Gateway.
If successful, it will enable M&S to remain in the town with an expanded presence and create around 45 additional jobs.
The new M&S will be more than twice the size of the existing Weymouth store and will include new Clothing, Home & Beauty departments, and a fresh market-style Foodhall with a range of new features as well as a new bakery offering daily-baked breads and pastries.
Hope Suominen, Regional Manager for M&S, said, ‘We’re excited to be progressing plans to open a brand-new, bigger, better M&S store at Weymouth Gateway retail park, which would offer local customers a much wider range.
‘With the lease on our current Weymouth store expiring in the next few years, and given the site is not suitable for our redevelopment needs, we have been looking for a new local location with the right space to offer shoppers the very best of M&S. In line with the proposed expansion, our existing Weymouth store would close once the development is completed with colleagues moving to work in our new store or other nearby stores. We are also expecting to create an additional 45 new jobs in the local area.’
Chris Newns, Director of Avercet, said, ‘We are delighted to be supporting M&S in its aspiration to provide a state-of-the-art retail experience for the customers of Weymouth within a well-designed building which complements the surrounding area.’
The building will be designed to achieve the BREEAM Very Good rating with a range of initiatives to limit energy use including PV panels on the roof.
The planning application also includes 234 additional parking spaces including extra EV charging points and covered cycle racks, and associated infrastructure and landscaping.
If the application is successful, M&S will join Aldi, B&M, Costa, Dunelm and McDonalds who are already operating on the site and providing around 340 new jobs to date, along with a vibrant town gateway and visitor draw.