M&S to close three stores
Marks & Spencer is set to permanently shut three of its stores in the coming days.
Its branches in Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, and Deansgate, Bolton, will close on April 15, with a further closure in Castleford, West Yorkshire, set to go ahead on the 22nd.
Two further closures are planned later in the year in Cardiff and Wrexham.
The retailer has recently closed a number of branches, including in London and Edinburgh.
In November, M&S warned of a “gathering storm” for retailers, with economic uncertainty and a cost-of-living crisis putting a strain on consumer budgets.
The retailer has said it plans to close 67 stores within the next five years, although M&S said it plans to open 104 larger units.
The new store pipeline includes 8 stores in key city locations including a new 97,000 sq ft store in Leeds White Rose and a 70,000 sq ft store at Liverpool ONE, both due to open in Summer 2023. Later in the year, other major stores are set to open, including a 65,000 sq ft store in Birmingham Bullring, a 96,000 sq ft store in Manchester’s Trafford Centre, and a 98,000 sq ft store in Lakeside Thurrock.