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Former Marks and Spencer store on Stodman Street, Newark, to be redeveloped as part of Towns Fund bid to government




Ambitious plans to bring a halt in the decline in Newark town centre can be revealed today.

Key to the turnaround is the former Marks and Spencer store on Stodman Street.

Former Marks and Spencer shop. (38829744)
Former Marks and Spencer shop. (38829744)

The store has been empty since April of last year when the high street giant shut the doors as part of a nationwide programme of closures.

Now the building forms a transformational strand of Newark’s Town Investment Plan that was put to the government last week in a bid to secure up to £25m from the new Towns Fund.

The proposal would see the art deco-style frontage retained, with the rear demolished to make way for four smaller retail units.

It is hoped the redevelopment would provide units of a size and shape that could attract new tenants more than the existing structure allows.

Newark and Sherwood District Council bought the Marks and Spencer building prior to auction for £540,000.

As a result, the redevelopment would provide the opportunity to secure retail tenants in new units of a size and shape that would generate more income in the future than the existing building allows.

There would also be 30 high-quality flats to the rear and on upper floors.

The work could be completed by early 2023.

An artist impression of the M&S development.
An artist impression of the M&S development.

“Since the departure of Marks and Spencer, footfall in the town centre has noticeably declined just as it is declining nationally. Here in Newark we have ambitious plans to address and reverse this,” said David Lloyd, co-chairman of the Towns Fund Board and leader of the district council.

“The plans for Stodman Street mark a major step forward in our plans for regenerating and reinvigorating Newark into a vibrant town centre.

“The former M&S building is an underused public asset and located in a strategically significant part of the town. Bringing the space back into use would benefit residents, visitors and businesses, acting as a catalyst for further regeneration.”

Feedback from the Town Board’s public consultation on the future of Newark identified the need for additional, high-quality homes in the town centre.

The district council made an active push to bring large retailers into the town centre with limited success due to the coronavirus pandemic, market forces and because more now shop online.

The Advertiser understands Primark and H&M were two household names approached with the offer of favourable terms for renting the store, but declined.

Newark MP and Secretary of State for housing Robert Jenrick said the former Marks and Spencer would make a good site for quality town centre housing.

He said covid and market forces spanning a decade had led to a significant downturn for retail and the sustainability of town centres in their current forms.

“Town centres like Newark need to adapt and evolve,” Mr Jenrick said, arguing that a reduced number of shops, but of greater quality meant fewer would stand empty, coupled with a mix of quality housing and conversion of empty shops and the floors above them was a way forward.

“I am really impressed by the council’s plans to replace empty shops with new housing.”



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