NEWS that retail giants, Marks and Spencer are at an advanced stage in plans to open their first store in Limerick has been welcomed.
But Limerick’s Mayor has warned that any new store opening will have to be in the city centre.
Cllr James Collins said in a statement this week that he is aware of the news coverage surrounding a potential investment by Marks and Spencer in Limerick and would welcome any such development.
He added: “It’s clear this would only be permissible in the city centre as per the retail planning and development guidelines.”
Despite the fact that the UK retail chain has been having difficulties that are leading them to plan the closure of 100 stores across the chain, a spokesman has confirmed that they are about to expand in the Irish market.
In an interview with the Sunday Independent, country manager Ken Scully said that the company is on the point of agreeing a new store location for Limerick, which will carry a full range of food and clothing.
“Any kind of big population centres where we are not at the moment, we would look at trying to get in to,” he said.
And he said that the Limerick store will see price cuts to match the stiff competition in the Irish market.
As yet, the proposed location of the new store has not been revealed. Retail space in the city centre for a store of the size needed to make the M&S venture sustainable is likely to be at a premium.
