Marks & Spencer has reaffirmed its commitment to keeping a presence in Bristol city centre in spite of its decision to open a 13,470 sq m (145,000 sq ft) anchor store in Prudential and J T Bayliss’s & Co Cribbs Causeway regional shopping centre.
Speaking at a ceremony where the developers handed over possession of the Cribbs unit, Ian Giffords of M&S confirmed that he had considered relocating its existing 6,968 sq m (75,000 sq ft) city centre store: “We have looked at the site in Bond Street and we have also been approached about moving to the First Bus Station site.” He added: “It’s our policy to have edge of city and city centre stores.”
The £120m Cribbs Causeway scheme is set for completion in 1998. The 69,675 sq m (750,000 sq ft) scheme 6 miles north of Bristol will be amongst the last out of town centres to be built in the UK.
EGi News 31/05/97
