East Ayrshire councillors approve plans for £6.5m M&S foodhall at Kilmarnock retail park

Plans for a £6.5m Marks & Spencer foodhall in Kilmarnock have been unanimously approved, despite a warning that the closure of its town centre store after 90 years will be a “body blow”.

East Ayrshire Council’s Planning Committee backed proposals to convert two vacant units at Queens Drive Retail Park into a modern M&S foodhall, expected to open in early 2028.

But the decision comes as the retailer prepares to close its King Street premises, where it has traded since 1936, when its lease expires in March 2027.

The potential gap between the two stores has raised questions about the future of 71 employees, with M&S hoping to negotiate a lease extension to maintain continuous trading.

Committee chairman Councillor Graham Barton acknowledged the significance of losing one of Kilmarnock’s best-known retailers.

He said: “M&S closing its King Street store is absolutely a body blow to Kilmarnock town centre. There’s absolutely no getting away from that.”

However, he stressed that councillors were considering the merits of the proposed foodhall rather than deciding whether the existing store should close.

“The planning application before us, it’s not asking us to approve the relocation of that store,” he said.

“I think all of us in here would definitely have preferred the new food hall to be located either in its current location or a nearby location such as the BHS store.”

But he added: “It is a blow, but you’ve got to welcome investment in Kilmarnock.”

The council’s planning report revealed that the existing King Street store generates an estimated £8.7m in annual food sales.

Officers acknowledged that losing the store would have a significant impact on town centre footfall and neighbouring businesses, but concluded that refusing the Queens Drive application would not prevent M&S from leaving.

The retailer has made clear it intends to close its King Street store regardless of the planning decision.

Planning officers examined alternative locations, including the existing M&S building at 72 King Street and the former BHS premises at 28 King Street.

M&S argued that both were unsuitable for a modern foodhall because of their layouts, servicing arrangements and operational constraints.

Although officers noted that detailed financial evidence had not been provided to support all the company’s claims, they accepted that the combined difficulties justified ruling out the town centre alternatives.

M&S head of town planning, Lynn Scott, told councillors the existing building was increasingly inefficient.

“It’s hugely inefficient, with only 29% of the total floor space being used for trading floor space,” she said, stating that this compared to 74% in the proposed store.

She added: “It’s critical that we can operate efficiently against the backdrop of ever-increasing costs to do business today.”

The new foodhall will occupy the former Carpetright and Harry Corry units at Queens Drive, offering around 6,600 product lines, an in-store bakery and click-and-collect facilities.

Unlike the King Street store, it will not have a dedicated clothing department or café.

The planning application attracted 339 representations in support and six objections.

Objectors raised concerns about reduced town centre footfall and the difficulties the move could create for elderly customers and people without cars.

Councillor William Lennox highlighted the importance of bus connections for shoppers travelling from the south of East Ayrshire.

He asked officers to ensure the developer considered “the requirement from folk coming from the south of the authority to get to the retail park”.

Officers agreed that the development’s travel plan should consider those connections.

Meanwhile, uncertainty remains over how M&S will safeguard the existing 71 jobs if the King Street store closes before the new premises open.

Ms Scott told councillors: “The intention is always a relocation where it’s continuous trade. That’s the ideal scenario whereby the old store closes the day prior to the new store opening.”

She said the company would seek to negotiate a short extension to the existing lease.

But she acknowledged: “That’s obviously not fully in our gift because we’re working with another party.”

M&S said it would seek to redeploy employees where possible if continuous trading could not be arranged.

The company has also agreed to contribute £100,000 towards Kilmarnock town centre improvements, potentially including work at St Marnock Square, through a legal agreement.

Councillors unanimously approved the application, subject to planning conditions and completion of that agreement.