Marks & Spencer is to enter Savile Row with a new design centre and launch suit range.

Marks & Spencer is to set up an office at the famous London tailoring location to work on its new Inspired by Savile Row range, The Daily Telegraph reported.

The office will house five designers who have worked with pre-eminent tailor Richard James and have designed seven wool suits to kick-off the range later this month. 

The suits, which cost between £299 and £349, are made in China with British wool.

M&S chief executive Marc Bolland said:. “It would be lovely [to manufacture them in the UK], but we just couldn’t do it. It would be three or four times the price.”

Bolland said the new office and range show that there is desire to create a strong ‘Inspired by’ brand.

Non-food merchandising director Andrew Skinner left the business after 28 years yesterday.

Bolland said it did not signal a shake-up in senior management. He said: “Everyone is over-egging this. Our senior staff churn is less than at Tesco, Sainsbury’s or any other big retailer. Staff are happy.”