Marks and Spencer reveal plans to relocate to huge new store

The multimillion pound project would see Marks and Spencer leave its current premises on St Mary Street.

The new store is estimated to be twice the size of the existing store.

A spokesperson for Marks and Spencer said that all colleagues will be retained with an additional 45 jobs to be created by the opening of the new store.

The M&S store on St Mary Street will remain open until the day before the new store opens.

As it is still at the planning stage, it may be a few years before the new store opens its doors for the first time

Developers London Metric and Avercet are preparing a planning application to bring forward the new development in the near future.

Hope Suominen, Regional Manager for M&S, said: "We’re excited to announce our proposals to open a brand-new, bigger, better M&S store at Weymouth Gateway retail park, which would offer local customers a much wider range of M&S products.

"The new store would include stylish and spacious new clothing, home & beauty departments and a fresh market-style foodhall, with a range of new features including displays of great quality, trusted value produce from M&S Select Farms and a show-stopping new bakery offering fresh daily-baked breads and pastries.

"With the lease on our current Weymouth store expiring in the next few years, we have been looking for a new local location with the right space to offer shoppers the very best of M&S.

"In line with the proposed expansion, our existing Weymouth store would close once the development is completed with colleagues moving to work in our new store or other nearby stores.

"We are also expecting to create an additional 45 new jobs in the local area.

"We’re looking forward to working with our development partners London Metric and Avercet as they prepare a planning application to bring forward this exciting new development and will keep the local community updated as our plans progress.”