​Marks & Spencer reveals new investment in London stores

The move will create 200 new jobs and builds on the £10.3m investment and 200 jobs created in London last year.

M&S is set to open a new store in Purley Way, Croydon, this week, along with a new Foodhall in Earlsfield and a full renewal of its Victoria Cardinal Place store.

The retailer will also serve commuters in the City with a new Foodhall in Liverpool Street station and a relaunch of M&S Waterloo through franchise partnerships.

The investment builds on its renewal programme last year, which saw food sales at M&S Woolwich more than doubled since the update. Its renewal of M&S Kingston saw food sales rise by 25% and 8% in clothing and home.

M&S chief executive Stuart Machin said: “M&S has been innovating in London for over a hundred years. We’re proud that many of our high street ‘firsts’ were born in the capital – from operating a chain of penny bazaars across London in the early 20th century to opening our first ever Simply Food here in 2001 and trialling our first new-look Foodhall design in Clapham in 2019. 

“Today, a third of all M&S stores are located in London – whether in train stations, shopping centres or high streets – and today’s investment shows that we are committed to offering shoppers in our great capital city the best of M&S for the next 100 years and beyond.”

M&S’ investment also includes the proposed redevelopment of Marble Arch.

In a letter to the Evening Standard, Machin said: “The high street which is meant to be the jewel in London’s crown today is a national embarrassment, with a proliferation of tacky candy stores, antisocial behaviour and footfall remaining in the doldrums, 11% down on pre-pandemic levels.

“And the scrapping of tax-free shopping for international visitors only holds London back further. Meanwhile, other cities are beginning to thrive again.

“It pains me to see our great city like this. For too long now it has been on life support.”