Peterborough Queensgate Marks & Spencer store to close under plans

Marks and Spencer said changing shopping habits were behind the closure plan

Marks & Spencer (M&S) has proposed closing one of its city centre shops.

The retailer said it planned to shut its store in Queensgate Shopping Centre, Peterborough, because of changing shopping habits.

Regional manager Craig Burton said staff would be offered "alternative roles with M&S wherever possible".

The leader of Peterborough City Council, Mohammed Farooq, said the closure would leave a "massive void" if it went ahead.

In 2021, John Lewis announced it would leave Queensgate Shopping Centre after almost 40 year of trading there.

M&S thanked customers for shopping in the store and said it would continue to serve them at the M&S Peterborough Brotherhood store and M&S Foodhall in Serpentine Green Shopping Centre.

"Shopping habits are changing, so we're rotating our store estate to make sure we have the right stores to offer customers," added Mr Burton.

"In recent years we have invested over £31m in our stores in the East of England and we look forward to working with the local council to bring forward plans for further future investment in to Peterborough and the wider local area."

Mohammed Farooq said he hoped M&S would maintain a presence in Peterborough City Centre

Speaking to BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, Mr Farooq said: "On a positive note, there were reports last week that Fraser's [retail group] were coming, but this is a blow to Queensgate in the immediate future."

He hoped Marks and Spencer would not leave Peterborough altogether and added: "Our chief executive met M&S a few days ago, and we'll continue to have a dialogue to make sure they remain in the city centre or have some kind of presence in the city centre."

The news came after M&S recently reported higher-than-expected Christmas sales and profits last year.