M&S to expand Ripon supermarket?

Marks and Spencer appears to be planning to expand its supermarket in Ripon.

The St Michael’s Retail Park site, on Rotary Way, opened in 2020 alongside three other units at the site which have remained empty since.

German retailer Lidl was granted planning permission to take over the vacant units in September 2021, but work never commenced and the supermarket scrapped plans to open at the site in January.

The Stray Ferret understood at the time Lidl's contract had expired following ongoing delays in the project.

However, the future of the retail park appears to be brighter after planning documents newly submitted to North Yorkshire Council suggested M&S could be taking over at least one of the neighbouring units. 

A letter submitted by agent Savills talks about “upsizing of the existing M&S operation at the retail park”.

It adds the plans would require eight additional parent and child parking spaces, as well as two new trolley bays.

The application also sought approval for eight additional EV parking spaces and a new substation.

A proposed site layout also outlines plans to reconfigure some of the entrances on the units. 

The Stray Ferret has contacted M&S for further information, but had not received a response at the time of publication.