A vast new M&S flagship store is being built near London

Whether you’re stocking up on picky bits, treating yourself to posh groceries or only there for Colin the Caterpillar, M&S is an absolute British staple. In fact, this February Marks and Spencer was voted Brits’ favourite supermarket for an impressive fifth year in a row (though, somewhat predictably, with only a two-star rating for ‘value for money’). 

Winning over people’s hearts clearly isn’t enough for M&S – now, the chain wants to open more stores and bring its fancy goods to even more Brits. Last December Marks and Sparks opened a massive new store in London, while the company has wider plans to open 200 new locations in the capital alone. 

Soon, the famous supermarket will be building a brand new two-storey store in Harlow, a London commuter town in Essex. Plans were announced for the new M&S on March 6. The 50,000 square foot shop – which will be built over the driving training centre site on Edinburgh Way – will include an MS Foodhall as well as fashion and household goods. 

We’re light on further details at the mo, but we do know that the new store will have a car park with 380 spaces built next to it. Over the past few years, Harlow has been sprucing itself up, from opening a brand new Ikea store to planning a new town from scratch right next door. 

Dan Swords, Leader of Harlow Council, said the new M&S was a ‘real vote of confidence in Harlow’s future’ and added: ‘We promised the people of Harlow we would bring a full-line M&S back to our town - and today we have delivered.’

The town’s last M&S in the Harvey Centre shut down years ago, and has since been replaced by a gym. Stuart Machin, M&S CEO, credited the council’s revitalisation efforts for helping the chain to return to Harlow.

Beyond Harlow, M&S is considering opening stores in 12 more sites across Essex. These are:

• Basildon
• Benfleet / Leigh-on-Sea
• Billericay
• Braintree
• Brentwood
• Great Dunmow
• Maldon
• Rayleigh
• Saffron Walden
• South Woodham Ferrers
• Westway Chelmsford
• Witham

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