M&S to triple Wheatley Centre presence
City of Doncaster Council has given the go-ahead to Marks & Spencer to expand at the retail park, as the business prepares to close its city centre store.
M&S announced in March this year, to some dismay locally, that it will close its store at Baxtergate and Frenchgate in central Doncaster in 2025.
The retailer will effectively relocate that operation, in taking the Wheatley store from an M&S Foodhall to a wider offer, including clothes and homeware. Units formerly occupied by Sports Direct and an Office outlet store will be used for the project.
Lichfields has guided the project through the planning process, with Stride Treglown on board as architect. Dragonfly Consulting advised on noise issues.
Dated 30 July, the application was approved under delegated powers.
British Land, owner of the Wheatley Centre, said in its recent annual report that retail parks are the best performing part of the UK shopping scene, and that its own locations – BL is the largest operator in the segment – are outperforming the wider market.
A report by Doncaster’s principal planning officer Andrea Suddes describes how the Wheatley Centre has been changed over the years from an “industrial-looking” retail warehousing scheme to a more consumer-friendly environment.
Suddes said that the proposed alterations to give the three units a uniform exterior will improve the existing appearance “and is generally in keeping with other recently altered units” adding that the project “will create a uniformity with these units and will set a benchmark for alterations to other shop fronts”.
Along with the external changes, the interiors of the units will be reconfigured to make one combined unit.
The units concerned – 12, 13 and 14a – sit within a retail park that comprises two terraces, east and west, facing onto a car park and central access road, with servicing and staff car parking to the rear.
They form part of a row of seven on the eastern flank, which is also home to Next/Costa, Boots, Superdrug and TKMaxx. The western side has other high street brands and a smaller detached F&B unit. Access is from the A630 Wheatley Hall Road.
Documents relating to the application can be viewed on Doncaster’s planning portal, with the reference 24/00844/FUL.
Retail parks are better than city centres
By Anonymous
Then they should be made to make another entrance and exit. Last Saturday it took me an hour to get out of the car park 😳 I will never visit Wheatley centre again on a weekend . Total joke
I could of gone to Meadowhall in less than that time who has a lot of entrances and exits… good parking to..Big mistake Doncaster planners department
By Ann Clapham
The extension of M&S on Wheatley park may improve the look of the park but unless something is done to the car park and particularly the exit,it will bring chaos and frustration to the shoppers. Tempers will be frayed at peak times and the car park will become gridlocked. I have sat on numerous occasions for an hour to vacate the park at peak times and that is just with the food hall. With the increase in customer use with clothes and homeware it has the potential to be a disaster. I hope the planning officer took parking into consideration when deciding to grant permission for the extension.
By Anonymous
The car park needs looking at it’s impossible to get out
By Anonymous
Is the exit to the car parks being revised absolute nightmare at moment to exit with long queues
By Anonymous
I do not think that the car park will be large enough for all of the shoppers!
By Veronica Watson.
Christmas shopping here was a nightmare. Sunday 22nd it took me and many others over in the bottom right hand corner of the car park over Three, yes three hours to get out. Because everyone was exiting further along the car park no one was able to get out from where I was parked. I went back into M&S to ask what could be done and they didn’t want to help in anyway. The car park apparently is privately owned so not their responsibility! Planning officer needs to justify why she has given the go ahead for this development if there is no improvement to the parking problem.
By Anonymous
I agree the car park needs urgent upgrade the entrance and exit in the Centre is utterly ridiculous and needs to be addressed before the new M&S store opens
By Anonymous
Is there any public transport to the new Marks and Spencers….
By Anonymous
Been there again today for the first time since Christmas. No change in trying to exit the car park. Long queues again!!
By Anonymous
If you don’t like being stuck in your car then don’t drive.
By Surrounded by idiots
Always one..’if you don’t like cars ..blah blah blah..The world does not revolve around bikes, the rest of us live in reality.
By Mammilspotter