Marks & Spencer's Cheshire Oaks store in Ellesmere Port is the largest M&S ever built from scratch and remains the retailer's second largest store globally. Opened in August 2012, the branch boasts more than 148,000 square feet of selling space across two floors, equivalent to almost 11 Olympic-sized swimming pools, according to M&S.
Massive Retail Space and Amenities
The store offers thousands of products across fashion, homeware, beauty, and food, including a large Food Hall. Two M&S Cafés can seat around 430 customers in total. The site created more than 350 jobs when it opened and has become one of the company's flagship stores.
Environmental Design and Awards
M&S designed Cheshire Oaks as one of its greenest and most environmentally friendly stores. It was built to be the most carbon-efficient store at the time and has since won multiple awards. Notable features include a roof made from 100% FSC-certified glulam timber, which produces far less carbon than traditional materials. External walls use hemp and lime panels that help retain heat; the store loses less than 1°C of heat overnight compared with around 9°C in many other retail buildings.
Energy and Water Efficiency
The company states the site is 42% more energy efficient and produces 40% fewer carbon emissions than an equivalent store. An 80,000-litre rainwater harvesting tank supplies around a third of the store's water needs. Outside, the landscaping includes dozens of plant species to encourage wildlife.
Recognition and Customer Engagement
The store achieved a BREEAM "Excellent" rating, one of the most widely used environmental assessment standards for buildings. Customers can learn about its sustainability features through information displays and QR codes placed around the site.
