M+S to come to Malvern (From Malvern Gazette)

M+S to come to Malvern

4:05pm Thursday 15th March 2007 in News By Lindsay Holder

Shopping in Malvern will see another huge boost as Marks and Spencer announces detailed plans for its brand new store, on the Roman Way Retail Park.

The 33,000 sq ft store, to go where Focus used to be, is set to open later this year.

It will boast a range of women's, men's and children's clothing, as well as a food hall and bakery.

It will also include a Café Revive, serving a selection of snacks, such as sandwiches, ciabattas and hot drinks.

Spokesman Rachael Cokayne, said the store would create a large number of new jobs, but she could not confirm the exact figure at this point.

She added it was too early to confirm its opening date.

John Dorrington, Marks and Spencer regional manager, said: "It is very exciting for us to be extending our commitment to Worcestershire, by opening a new store in Malvern.

"The Malvern Retail Park is an extremely accessible shopping destination in a great location that will complement our existing store portfolio in the region.

"Not only will it allow us to offer local customers more choice, it will also create a substantial number of new jobs in the area."

The store, Malvern's first marks and Spencer, is the latest shopping giant to open on the 143,000 sq ft retail park, which already boasts famous retailers including Next, Boots, Dorothy Perkins, Matalan and Argos.

The park is owned by Hercules Unit Trust, which took it over from the Pensions Trust, for £37.1m, in June 2004.

Ben Grose, of British Land, property advisers to Hercules, said the company was delighted to welcome Marks and Spencer to the park, and that the area has rapidly become a shopping destination in its own right.

The retail park was first mooted, along with plans for 230 houses, in 1989, on the land belonging to the Madresfield Estate.

Safeway was the first store to open on the development, in 1993, and was soon joined by MacDonald's, Argos, Richleys and Powerhouse.

Since then, it has gone from strength to strength, attracting some of the biggest names in British retail, though the response from Malvern's town centre traders has been mixed.

Anthony Collis, Malvern Hills District Council's town centre manager, said: "It's good that M&S is coming to Malvern.

"It's a shame that it's not closer to the town centre, but we have to accept that if it brings people into the area, instead of them going into Worcester, then it's a good thing."