Wakefield city centre will not have a Marks and Spencer store after out of town food hall opens

The company has confirmed it does not believe its existing store in the Ridings has a sustainable future and will be closed after the new food only store is opened.

Marks and Spencer made the comments in response to a letter from Wakefield and Rothwell Conservative Association chairman Naeem Formuli.

Mr Formuli had asked M&S Chief Executive Stuart Machin to reconsider the future of Marks and Spencer in Wakefield city centre.

M&S has said it will start building work next year on a new 18,000 sq ft out of town food store at City Fields off Neil Fox Way, Stanley.

A Wakefield and Rothwell Conservative Association spokesperson said: "We have now received a direct response from M&S following our letter to Chief Executive Stuart Machin.

"M&S has confirmed that it does not believe its existing Kirkgate store has a sustainable future and says it will not retain an M&S presence in Wakefield city centre.

"The existing store is intended to remain open until the new City Fields Foodhall opens, allowing colleagues to transfer across.

"We are naturally disappointed, particularly after hearing from so many residents about the importance of the city-centre location, clothing range, cafe and accessibility.

"Nevertheless, we thank M&S for responding directly to our representations.

"Attention must now also turn to the future of The Ridings and Wakefield city centre once M&S leaves."

Mr Formuli wrote in the letter to M&S: "For generations, M&S has been part of Wakefield city centre. Many customers, particularly older residents, travel by bus from communities across the district.

"For them, visiting M&S is not simply about shopping. The cafe is somewhere to meet friends, celebrate birthdays, have lunch and socialise. The city-centre location is also important for people who do not drive.

"Its departure, alongside Primark's relocation, would also reduce a significant source of footfall for The Ridings and the surrounding city centre, with potential implications for other shops, cafes and independent businesses.

"There has also been a significant change since M&S's January announcement: Wakefield Council now owns The Ridings. That change in ownership may create scope for a different commercial discussion about the terms on which space could be occupied within the centre.

"Given that no closure date has yet been set, we would be grateful if M&S could clarify whether it would be willing to consider any commercially viable option for retaining a meaningful M&S presence in Wakefield city centre, whether alongside, or as an alternative to, the proposed City Fields Foodhall.

"In particular, we would welcome the opportunity to understand whether a materially different rental or lease arrangement with the Council could affect M&S's commercial assessment, and what conditions would need to exist for such an option to be considered.

"We would be pleased to discuss this with your property team. There is considerable local affection for M&S in Wakefield, and we hope the period before a closure date is confirmed provides an opportunity for all realistic options for the city-centre store to be properly considered."

Aldi is due to start building work on a new store at the district centre at City Fields later this year.

And Primark is set to open a new store in the former Debenhams unit at Trinity Walk in Wakefield city centre.