M&S planning supermarket return to UK seaside town | UK | News

Located in the city centre, M&S traded for 94 years before closing and is now the Petticoat Lane Emporium, Kent’s largest covered market.

M&S is now planning to take over a former Homebase store at Folkestone’s Park Farm Retail Park, which closed last year, according to reports.

The town was earmarked for a new store last year when the retail giant compiled a list of towns, cities and suburbs where it hoped to open a food branch.

Planning documents have been submitted to Folkestone and Hythe District Council. Documents show M&S plans to split the unit into two separate stores. The second unit was proposed to be Home Bargains.

M&S will be located in a 2,323 square meter unit, while Home Bargains will have an area of ​​2,309 square metres.

According to the application, the project aims to transform a “large empty retail unit” back into a hub of activity. The approval will see an M&S Foodhall in the seaside town.

A major renovation of the building’s exterior is planned as part of the proposal.

New clear glass storefronts will be installed in a “major improvement to the existing façade”.

The renovation will see a “green-tiled portal entrance” along with “pearl white” cladding on the demolished sides of the building.

The former Homebase’s outdoor garden centre, two-storey staff block, former entrance and exit lobbies and water sprinkler tanks will be demolished.

The proposal includes eight EV spaces, nine parent and child spaces and a car park expansion with the addition of a new pedestrian crossing.

There is an existing Home Bargains store next to the retail park but it is not known if and how the proposal will affect this.

The council is expected to make its decision on the planning application by October 1.

M&S will also close 14 in-store cafes in England and Scotland this summer.

The retailer announced earlier this year that this was part of a restructuring plan to “offer more product selection and improve the shopping experience.”