Marks & Spencer (M&S) has submitted plans for a new shop to open in Caerphilly. The plans were submitted on August 26 for the change of use of a unit at Gallagher Retail Park to facilitate an M&S Foodhall.
Planning application details
The application document available via the council's planning portal reads: "This application relates to Unit 18 of the Gallagher Retail Park only and will facilitate the occupation of the floorspace at the unit as an M&S Foodhall."
"Provision already exists for Unit 18 to operate as a ‘foodstore’, but this application seeks provision for the specific operational needs for M&S."
Leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, Jamie Prichard, shared: "Marks & Spencer have put in a planning application for a food hall on the Gallagher site."
Jobs and expansion plans
Up to 70 full and part-time jobs are proposed, subject to planning approval being granted.
Earlier this year M&S revealed 500 locations across the UK it was targeting for new food stores. It followed the excellent performance of other M&S Foodhalls in recent years.
The possible new locations included 14 in South Wales, which were listed as: Abergavenny, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Chepstow, Cwmbran, Llanishen, Monmouth, Mumbles, Neath North, Penarth, Pentwyn, Pontarddulais, Porthcawl and Talbot Green.
Retail park developments
M&S's plan for Caerphilly comes shortly after news that plans were approved for fashion chain Next to transform a vacant unit at the same retail park.
When Caerphilly County Borough Council conducted a public consultation on the proposals for a Next, the scheme attracted 260 letters of support.
The unit, situated adjacent to a gym, was constructed in 2008 but has remained largely unused for almost two decades, aside from storage purposes.
Cllr Prichard added: "First, Next, now M&S. We’re delighted to see major retailers seeing Caerphilly as a place to locate to."
He encouraged locals to submit their views through the planning portal.
