Peterborough Marks and Spencer at retail plans major expansion to almost double retail space
A Peterborough branch of Marks & Spencer has applied for a major extension to its building.
An application has been submitted to extend the Marks & Spencer located at the Brotherhood Retail Park in Walton.
The plans state that the intention is to expand the M&S store into the unused space between the unit and Tapi Carpets.
The roughly 700 square metres of floorspace is currently being used as a seating area. Plans for a two-storey gym in that space were approved in 2019 but that permission has now lapsed with no development being built.
The extension would provide further ground and first floor space that would be used for the sale of clothing and homeware, including furniture and furnishings.
A total of 1,676 further retail floorspace would be created, spread across the ground and first floors.
The unit currently includes a food hall, males and female clothing sections, an M&S cafe and click and collect kiosks.
The shop opened in 2012 and according the M&S has now become “dated and too small.”
The application states: “The existing store no longer provides a high-quality shopping experience and has become dated and too small for the surrounding catchment.
“The store is considered to be potentially brand damaging compared to what M&S as a business in now able to offer its valued customers.
"The current shopping environment is constrained, unattractive and uninviting. The overall experience must be attractive enough to drive footfall to the location.”
The application can be viewed on the council’s planning portal using reference 25/00827/FUL.