M&S finalising early 2027 start for new store

Work is set to begin early next year on a new £31m Marks and Spencer (M&S) store which will take over and extend a former Toys R Us.

The retailer said it was finalising plans for a flagship food and clothing outlet at Copdock Interchange, near Ipswich, which was approved in December last year.

It had initially given a target opening of July 2027, but it said it was now aiming for autumn 2027, which was also subject to change.

"Our new 60,000 sq ft full-line store will offer the very best of M&S food, fashion and beauty for customers and create over 120 new local jobs," a spokeswoman said.

"We'll keep the community updated as work progresses," she added.

The building has been empty since April 2018, when Toys R Us went into administration and closed its physical stores in the UK.

M&S will refurbish and extend the site by 2,755 sq m to create what it called a "modern and sustainable retail unit".

The car park will be re-configured and will include disabled spaces, electric vehicle spaces and cycle parking. There will also be a bus stop on site.

At the time the plans were approved by Babergh District Council, M&S said the new store would create 138 new jobs. The spokeswoman confirmed this had not been revised down but simply rephrased in its latest statement.

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