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New M&S store approved at former Toys R Us site

Alice CunninghamSuffolk
News imageIpswich Borough Council An artist's impression of what the new M&S store at the Copdock Interchange could look like. It shows a large square white building with the M&S logo on the front on a large window. A car park sits in front of the store.Ipswich Borough Council
This is what the new M&S store at Copdock could look like

Plans for a new £31m Marks & Spencer (M&S) flagship store at a former Toys R Us site have been approved.

The retailer announced more than a year ago it planned to open a food and clothing outlet at the Copdock Interchange near Ipswich.

Babergh District Council met on Wednesday to discuss the plans - which could create nearly 140 jobs - and councillors unanimously approved them.

M&S said in its planning documents it hoped to open the new store by July 2027, adding its Ipswich town centre store on Westgate Street would remain open.

News imageShannon Eustace/BBC A view of the front of the M&S store in the centre of Ipswich. The white building has the name of the store above the entrance. Shoppers can be seen walking past.Shannon Eustace/BBC
The M&S store on Westgate Street, Ipswich, will remain open

Councillors were warned that retail studies found the new store would divert a "significant amount of trade" away from the Westgate Street store, which is one of the largest in the town centre and have a "significant adverse impact" on the town centre.

However the economic benefits were raised which included additional customer choice, significant investment into the local area, new jobs and upskilling the workforce.

Planning officers said they determined the benefits of the development would outweigh any harm to the town centre.

News imageGoogle A picture from a roundabout where an empty Toys R Us can be seen in the distance. Vehicles wait at a red traffic light, waiting to get on to the roundabout.Google
The empty store can be seen on approach to Ipswich from the Copdock Interchange roundabout

The former Toys R Us has been empty since it went into administration in 2018 but the regeneration plans were recommended by approval earlier this month by planning officers.

M&S said it would extend the vacant store, adding some 2,755 square metres and it would create about 138 new jobs.

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