Part of Lakeside shopping retail park in Essex is set to be demolished for a £200m warehouse and distribution centre.
Several stores including Asda Home, Boots, TK Maxx and the former M&S unit will be affected by the plans, BBC News reported.
The redevelopment, which will create 700 jobs, will see the retailers occupying the soon-to-be demolished part of the complex relocate to empty units elsewhere on site.
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Lakeside retail park owner-British Land planning director Jayme McArthur said: “When considering the land use it’s important to note the evidenced oversupplied retail in the area which is causing vacancies and a need to consolidate existing retail into the core of the Lakeside basin, in turn creating wider vitality and vibrancy of the centre.
“We would not be proposing this investment in logistics if we believed the site would continue to thrive in its current form.
“The existing retail park is peripheral and in decline and will be ready for development in 2025. We are looking to invest £200m and with that comes benefit for Thurrock.”
M&S opened the doors to its newly relocated and revamped store inside Lakeside shopping centre last month, coinciding with the brand’s £80m investment into its bricks-and-mortar portfolio.
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