M&S 'is still committed' to town centres

Marks & Spencer is planning two more giant out-of-town 100,000 sq ft shops but is still committed to the UK's high streets.

It will open new stores in Bradford, Gloucester, Brentwood and Nottingham town centres over the coming years. New high-street stores are planned for the long term in Dorchester, Wandsworth and Bracknell. Large edge-of-town stores are planned in York and Stoke on Trent.

Clem Constantine, M&S's property director, said: "Where towns are creating new developments, we are very happy to stay in the centre. It is about doing the right thing for the town and for us." Ciaran Bird, the head of UK retail at CBRE and an M&S property adviser, said: "Along with John Lewis, Marks & Spencer is the preferred anchor tenant for development in and out of town."