Marks & Spencer is asking Kilmarnock residents to support its controversial plan to close its King Street store and open a new food store at Queen's Drive Retail Park. The £4.5 million project has been delayed by at least six months, with the opening now expected in Summer 2027 instead of winter 2026.
Store impact and figures
The King Street store accounts for nearly one fifth of the town centre's total retail turnover, according to estimates. In 2025, it generated around £8.7 million in convenience goods turnover, while the town centre's overall turnover was estimated at £47.9 million.
M&S wants locals to lobby East Ayrshire Council's planners to approve the move, which is expected to safeguard 71 jobs at the store. The new 14,680 sq. ft store will be an M&S Food with a click and collect service, not a direct replacement shop.
Timeline and closure
Regardless of the planning outcome, the King Street store will close in March 2027, leaving a gap with no M&S in the town if the new store is delayed. The planning application to convert two units at the retail park is still under consideration and has yet to receive approval.
David Anderson, M&S Regional Manager, said: “Customer shopping habits are changing, and we are adapting by rotating our store estate to ensure we have the right stores with the right space to deliver an excellent shopping experience for our customers. This multi-million pound investment in relocating our Kilmarnock store to Queens Drive Retail Park offers an improved shopping experience in a modern, accessible retail destination and we hope to receive a swift planning determination so we can move forward with our plans.”
New store features
The proposed store would feature a Foodhall more than double the size of the current offer, with over 6,600 products, including Select Farms fresh produce, an in-store bakery, and ranges like Nutrient Dense, Remarksable Value, and Only… Ingredients. It would also include a dedicated Click & Collect point for online fashion, home, and beauty orders, with ample parking.
M&S highlighted local sourcing, partnering with over 4,000 farms, sea farms, and fishing vessels across Scotland, and supporting 32 Select Farms within East Ayrshire. The company first shared plans in October 2025 and has met with local stakeholders.
Residents can show support via M&S's dedicated website at www.kilmarnockmands.com or comment on the planning application directly via East Ayrshire Council's website, reference 25/0567/PP.
