M&S food store plans

HOW the new Marks and Spencer store would have looked

MARKS and Spencer say they are still looking at options to open a food-only store in Oldham.

The company withdrew plans to open a department store as part of a mixed-use scheme with retail and residential opportunities at the Prince's Gate development in Oldham town centre last year.

The retailer scrapped plans for a clothing, home and food store at the former Oldham Mumps Metrolink park-and-ride site, however said it would look to open a new food store in Oldham.

A spokesperson for the company said: "Marks and Spencer does have an interest in developing a food offer in Oldham but we do not have an update on plans at this time."

M&S last week announced plans to open 34 new food stores and two clothing, home and food stores across the country in the next six months.

However it is also consulting with colleagues and their representatives over the proposed closure of six stores in Monks Cross (Simply Food store), Portsmouth, Slough, Warrington, Wokingham and Worksop (Simply Food store). M&S currently has 959 UK stores ­- 304 full line stores, 615 food-only stores and 40 outlets.