M&S confirms Blackburn relocation 

The retailer will leave the town centre once its lease expires and open a 15,000 sq ft food store at the Issa Brothers’ Frontier Park.  

M&S has announced its intention to vacate its current town centre store on King William Street, which sells clothes as well as food, and open a food-only shop two and a half miles away. 

The new M&S Foodhall at Frontier Park will be twice the size of the retailer’s current town centre food offer, although the King William Street unit is larger overall. 

Ben Heaps, regional manager for M&S, said: “With the lease on our current Blackburn store expiring in the next few years, we have been looking for a new local location with the right space to offer shoppers the very best of M&S.  

“In line with the proposed opening, our existing Blackburn store would close once the development is completed.” 

Heaps added that the upsized food offer in the new store would mean opportunities for “all colleagues working in our current store to move to work in the new store or other stores in the local area”. 

M&S’ decision to vacate Blackburn town centre comes in response to changing retail trends and the rise in online shopping. 

The local council will now look to work with the landlord to fill the vacant space. 

Cllr Phil Riley, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “Sadly, changes to how retail operates is something that we have to accept. 

“This is not a surprise as we knew it was under discussion at senior levels in Marks & Spencer, but we’ve always hoped for the best about keeping a large store – and I know the Blackburn team did too.” 

He added: “The building currently occupied by Marks & Spencer is privately owned, though we will be doing everything possible to make sure that the space is used for something people can enjoy when the time comes for the store to relocate in a couple of years’ time.”