Residents urged to show support for M&S Sunderland plans

Sunderland could be getting a 24,500sq ft Foodhall on Silksworth Lane as plans for the megastore go before Sunderland City Council’s Planning and Highways Committee on Monday, July 20.

The development is part of a wider £15 million retail scheme set to create more than 150 jobs and transform the underused site into a retail destination.

Residents are being urged to submit any final comments ahead of the meeting next week.

Philip Barker-Thomson, regional manager at M&S, said: “We’re excited by the opportunity to create a fantastic new store for Silksworth residents and bring them the very best of M&S Food.

“Customers would be able to shop the full M&S Food range, from everyday essentials to new viral products and easily collect online M&S fashion, home & beauty orders via click and collect.

“We are keen to keep growing our store footprint across the North East, where we work with over 300 select farm partners and employ around 2,000 colleagues.”

The proposed M&S Foodhall in Middlesbrough. (Image: Marks and Spencer)

The modern, market-style food hall would feature an in-store bakery, M&S select farm fresh produce, and dedicated flower and wine sections.

The full M&S range will be available, which includes the ‘Nutrient Dense’ and ‘Only… Ingredients’ lines, as well as the full ‘Remarkable Value’ range with more than 100 everyday essentials price-benchmarked against competitors.

As part of the wider retail development, plans include a new signalised pedestrian crossing on Silksworth Lane and improved walkways throughout the site to enhance accessibility and safety.

Mr Barker-Thomson welcomed ongoing community feedback and encouraged more residents to show their support ahead of the planning decision.

He said: “A massive thank you to everyone who has shared their views on the plans so far – the response has been great, and there is still time to show your support.

“If approved, our focus will be on delivering trusted value and exceptional quality for all customers, and of course that touch of M&S magic.”

M&S is urging residents to submit letters of support via the project website to ensure their views are formally considered as part of the planning process.

The planning application (reference 26/00144/FU4) will be determined by the committee on Monday, July 20.

If approved, the Silksworth Lane Foodhall would be one of the most modern M&S stores in the UK and could represent a key investment in the retailer’s national expansion plans.