A VISION has been unveiled for a new Marks & Spencer superstore at the Weymouth Gateway site.

The developers behind the regeneration of the site – already home to Aldi, B&M, Costa, Dunelm and McDonald’s – have submitted a planning application for a building measuring 3,886 square metres.

This has been sited in part to replace a smaller unit which already has planning consent. If this new application is successful, it will be a home to a new and expanded M&S – and will create around 45 additional jobs.

The planning application also includes 234 additional parking spaces including extra EV charging points and covered cycle racks, and associated infrastructure and landscaping.

If the application is approved the retail giant would leave its current premises on St Mary Street in the town centre.

M&S announced its plans to relocate to the out of town retail park in the summer - prompting concerns about what this will mean for Weymouth town centre, following the recent departures of other businesses.

READ MORE: Fears for Weymouth town centre as Marks and Spencer to move

The new store will be more than twice the size of the existing town centre shop and will include new clothing, home and beauty departments, and a fresh market-style foodhall with a range of new features including a new bakery.

Dorset Echo:

The application has been made to Dorset Council from Weymouth Gateway developers LondonMetric Property and Avercet Property.

READ MORE: What you need to know about new retail park at Weymouth Gateway 

Hope Suominen, regional manager for M&S, said: “We’re excited to be progressing plans to open a brand-new, bigger, better M&S store at Weymouth Gateway retail park, which would offer local customers a much wider range.

“With the lease on our current Weymouth store expiring in the next few years, and given the site is not suitable for our redevelopment needs, we have been looking for a new local location with the right space to offer shoppers the very best of M&S.

"In line with the proposed expansion, our existing Weymouth store would close once the development is completed with colleagues moving to work in our new store or other nearby stores. We are also expecting to create an additional 45 new jobs in the local area.”

Chris Newns, director of Avercet, said: “We are delighted to be supporting M&S in its aspiration to provide a state-of-the-art retail experience for the customers of Weymouth within a well-designed building which complements the surrounding area.”

The building will be designed to achieve the BREEAM ‘very good’ rating with a range of initiatives to limit energy use including PV panels on the roof.