Marks & Spencer to open Food Hall in Sydenham
Plans are in to divide a retail unit at Bell Green Sydenham to create a Marks and Spencer Food Hall.
The existing Currys unit in the retail park is to be divided into two with M&S taking on part of the space.
The applications states: “Unit 5 is currently occupied in its entirety by Currys. Unit 5 will be sub-divided into two units: 5A and 5B.
“Unit 5B which is the subject of this planning application will be occupied by Currys. Unit 5A which is the subject of a separate planning application is proposed to be occupied by M&S trading as a “M&S Foodhall”.
Future
Hopefully in time the entire retail park is replaced with a far more sustainable use of land including both shops and housing.
Having large retail sheds and acres of tarmac in a city with such a housing shortage is idiotic.
There are tentative plans to do so, which could also include building a railway station near the site.
For now though, car-dominated spaces like this are set to remain and waste brownfield land.
Plans can be viewed by clicking here.
Sub-dividing that huge Currys’ unit makes sense. It is clearly too big for the number of patrons and everytime I go there, I see more staff than customers. It’s a good move for M&S, though, since the schlep to Lewisham is tedious on the bus.