Keep M&S Foodhall in Cleveleys!

In January 2025 new plans emerged which will see a big new food-store built at Norcross. The staff might be looking forward to it but the town wants to keep M&S Foodhall in Cleveleys! Surely there’s space for both?

Keep M&S Foodhall in Cleveleys!

This Marks and Spencer’s Simply Food has traded exceptionally well in Cleveleys town centre since opening in June 2006. The new ‘Simply Food’ store replaced Iceland. Previously the shop had been Fine Fare, Times Past Furnishers and Cavendish Woodhouse Furnishers. The plot for the store was originally the site of a house called Mentmore.

Concerns began in 2017 when plans were first lodged for Norcross Retail Site. Later shelved in favour of housing, the first V1 plans included a 20,000 sq ft M&S Foodhall along with other retail units. Everyone was relieved when McDermott Homes put their application in for housing (now built) in October 2021.

Norcross Plans V2

But in a surprise move, on 7 January 2025, plans were lodged with Wyre Council for a brand new M&S Foodhall on land off Norcross roundabout, at the top side of Norcross Vets. The lease expires on the Cleveleys store in Jan 2026, when it’s understood they intend to close it.

The application documents state that the existing store at Victoria Road West, Cleveleys is a “compromised offer”. They believe it “no longer provides a quality shopping experience” and is “considered to be potentially brand damaging.” At only 29% of the size of store they would like, the plan is to close the Cleveleys town centre one and move lock-stock and barrel to Norcross. 

Plans Passed… but one last shot…

On 2 October 2025, planning consent was granted for the new M&S store at Norcross, subject to conditions and a S106 legal agreement. Financial contributions were requested towards Travel Planning and to appropriately secure Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG).

With the Section 106 met by the deadline of 23 December, Wyre Council has approved the plans, although 30+ conditions are attached.

There is no update as yet regarding closure of the Cleveleys store. Would you like to join me in one last stab at trying to keep the Cleveleys one open? Michael Welling heads up Acquisitions for the North West, why don’t you send him an email? michael.welling@marks-and-spencer.com. I did, explaining that when they’re looking for sites in nearby towns it’s barmy to close such a popular and profitable shop. It’s worth an email!

The Proposed Site

Public Transport to Norcross

The Planning Statement for the Norcross development states “we consider that the site is highly accessible by public transport and is located in an established urban location between the prominent areas of Thornton and Cleveleys Town Centre. The area is together referred to as Thornton-Cleveleys. It is surrounded by established and more recent residential development, and will be linked directly with that development by dedicated pedestrian and cycle linkages. Overall, the site is in a sustainable, urban location.”

Do you agree?

The planning approval includes a S106 legal agreement to secure financial contributions from the applicants towards Travel Planning.

Why Should M&S Keep a Foodhall in Cleveleys?

Apparently M&S have been deluged with complaints since this news broke so we can only hope there’s a glimmer of hope for the store to remain open. It makes so much sense on many levels:

• It’s a fantastically well trading store and one of their best in the UK, so why lose the turnover?
• In a busy town with a bus stop outside the door
• Used daily by people who don’t have their own transport
• Despite what the applicant thinks, Norcross isn’t easily accessible by public transport so many people WON’T be able to use it
• It’s a vital part of the Cleveleys town centre offer.

Cleveleys and it’s surrounding area has a higher than average retirement population who shop regularly at this store. Many people pop in 2 or 3 times a week, spending £20-30 but wouldn’t make the journey to Norcross, so M&S could lose as much trade as they gain. It also draws many people into the town each day, many of whom go on to visit businesses and food outlets. This trade will disappear. Surely they have some responsibility to town centres too?

And to add insult to injury, in late 2025 M&S announced that it was searching for sites for a whole new raft of stores. Proposed locations include Garstang and Lytham! We believe there is enough trade to keep an M&S Foodhall open in Cleveleys, even if the new store is built.

There IS Newbuild Space in the Town Centre

AND…. their documents say that there is no viable alternative within the town centre, Millstores having taken the former Wilko unit.

But the Hesketh Cars site is for sale and that would be an ideal brown field site. It’s right in the middle of the town with on-street parking (once their 100+ stock of cars is removed from the spaces they occupy on neighbouring side streets).

It could be a 2 storey building and, we’d have thought, fulfil all their requirements. Plus it would be a brilliant improvement in the town centre.

Do you Care for Cleveleys?

A lot of work is done by a lot of people to keep Cleveleys a vibrant and attractive town centre. The loss of a vital community resource will be a big blow. It’s understood that the landlord has a new tenant lined up already – let’s hope it’s as good as or better than M&S. Because when all of these facilities are gone it’s too late.

We created a petition on behalf of Care for Cleveleys (C4C) – the voluntary group which does so much to keep this lovely town vibrant and popular. You can find all about just what Care for Cleveleys does on Facebook and on the website www.CareforCleveleys.org.uk. 

> View the petition to keep an M&S Foodhall in Cleveleys.

Closure of high street names shows what a thin line we walk between a busy and useful town centre and one that’s like so many others across the UK – struggling to cope, with empty units and few shoppers. It’s why we can’t afford to be complacent and expect Cleveleys to always be popular – like anything successful we have to work at it.

Please join Care for Cleveleys and help.

Not only is C4C productive and making a big difference, it’s also great fun! If you can’t physically help you could help by making a donation. A few pounds each month goes a long way to covering running costs like insurance. Everything we do is covered by fundraising and donations. Find out about donating to Care for Cleveleys here. 

We work hard to keep the town a vibrant, attractive place to visit – and this means that footfall is consistently high throughout the year. Volunteer efforts keep the town busy but retailers and businesses need to help too. We can’t do it all on our own. Don’t just pull out of town because its good for your bottom line, put that ‘social and corporate responsibility’ into action that you’re all so fond of talking about.