M&S sets out plans for multi-million-pound investment in Ipswich

M&S has today unveiled plans to create a brand-defining 60k sq ft store at Ipswich’s Copdock Interchange, subject to planning permission.

The proposed store, backed by a multi-million-pound investment, would offer customers the very best of M&S Food, Clothing and Beauty, alongside a 80-seater M&S café. It would sit alongside the retailer’s existing store at Westgate Street, Martlesham Heath Retail Park, and its convenience store at Ipswich Hospital.

The site is serviced by the 13 and 20 bus routes and designs for the store include approximately 15 disabled parking spaces directly in front of the store, and 15 designated parent and child bays.

If permission is granted, the new store is estimated to create over 90 new jobs for the local community, with M&S targeting an opening date of Summer 2027.

Over the past three years, M&S has invested over £60m in new and renewed stores across the East of England and works with over 900 farmers in the region, 260 of which are based in Suffolk.

Will Smith, Property Director at M&S, said:

“At the Copdock site, we have a unique opportunity to create a brand defining M&S store in Ipswich alongside our existing Westgate Street presence and grow our footprint across East Anglia. The show stopping store, offering food, clothing and beauty, would be one of the most modern in the UK and create over 90 new jobs. From a fresh market-style foodhall brimming with seasonal produce to stylish clothing that always delivers trusted value, we would be able to offer the very best of M&S to customers. We are confident that an M&S at Copdock Interchange would be a brilliant shopping destination and a fantastic investment in Ipswich and the local community.”

The investment has been enabled by Ipswich Borough Council and Suffolk County Council, as owners of the Freehold and Long Leasehold of the site and secures an ongoing M&S presence in Ipswich town centre.

Councillor Neil MacDonald, Leader of Ipswich Borough Council, said:

“This is fantastic news for Ipswich. Ipswich gets the best of M&S with a new store at Copdock and a town centre store – something many other towns and cities can only dream of.

The impact on Ipswich can only be positive – millions of pounds of investment from a national retailer delivering almost a hundred new jobs and supporting the Suffolk supply chain is a real coup in this economy.”

Colin Kreidewolf, Chair of Ipswich Borough Assets (an Ipswich Borough Council owned company) which has sold the long leasehold for the Copdock site to M&S said,

“Ipswich Borough Assets acquired this site to protect Ipswich town centre and we’ve been successful in doing just that. The sale to M&S is coupled with the retailer retaining its Ipswich town centre presence giving residents the choice of town centre or out of town experience”.

Councillor Matthew Hicks, Leader of Suffolk County Council which has sold the freehold for the Copdock site to M&S said,

“We fully support this deal with M&S because it retains their long-standing presence in the town centre whilst also breathing new life into a very visible entrance to Ipswich that has lain vacant for so long.

By selling this piece of land to M&S, Suffolk County Council will make the entire deal possible and bring in much-needed funding to support council services.”

ENDS

*The 13 bus route runs up to six services during peak times Monday to Fridays, with approximately five services per hour on a Saturday and two services an hour on Sunday. The 20 bus route operates hourly Monday to Saturday.