Plans submitted for major new M&S store
EPAPlans to create a new Marks and Spencer (M&S) store in Hull have been submitted, six years after the closure of a similar shop in the city centre.
The 61,000-sq ft (5,659-sq m) food, home and clothing store, at Kingswood Retail Park, would create 43 jobs, according to the proposal.
At present, the retailer operates a food store at Kingswood, but the applicant said it was "too small to meet M&S's business model requirements".
Councillor Mike Ross, the leader of Hull City Council, welcomed the announcement, saying the proposal was a "massive sign of confidence" in the local economy.
The application has been submitted by Burnett Planning on behalf of Legal & General Assurance (Pensions Management) Limited, the owner of the retail park.
It would involved dividing the existing Matalan store into two units, with Matalan continuing to trade from a new, smaller space.
M&S would occupy the larger part of the building, with a food hall on the ground floor. Clothing and home departments would occupy part of the ground floor and a new first-floor space.
Additional space would be used for staff facilities and storage.
In addition to the Kingswood store, M&S operates "Simply Food" halls in Anlaby and Beverley. The Kingswood store would be the first to offer clothing and homeware in the city since the closure of the Whitefriargate store in 2019.
David Hooper, a director at Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce, described the announcement as "great news".
"M&S is one of the major high street brands and it has been missed from the city," he said. "To see them come back will be welcomed by shoppers and the public."
Ross, a Liberal Democrat who represents the Beverley and Newland Ward, said: "Marks and Spencer's news is a massive sign of confidence in the local economy here in Hull.
"This will improve the offer to residents across the city and help us attract more people to Hull and the surrounding area."
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