14 exciting images of major building progress at new multi-million-pound flagship Norcross M&S store

A huge new 21,500 sq ft Marks & Spencer Food Hall is taking shape in a multi-million pound development at Norcross.

After the framework for the building first appeared back in the summer, the hulking new structure has dramatically changed and is at last beginning to look like a modern, top-of the-range superstore.

The new M&S Food Hall at the Norcross roundabout off Norcross Lane will feature a 16,000 sq ft sales area. It will offer 6,600 product lines, a 360-degree walk-around cheese barge, an indoor plant sales area, and 145 parking spaces, creating around 50 jobs

As work continue on the site, agents have submitted updated papers to Wyre Council to rubber stamp planning details after the scheme was finally approved by planners a year ago. Planning officers have accepted agreements on two planning condition relating to boundary treatments and work on a new, small-scale substation on the site, relating to the original planning permission.

M&S have yet to confirm an opening date for the store but an company spokesman previously said: “Timings wise we are looking at early Spring next year, however there will be an update on more exact date nearer the time.”

With the new store set to open next year, the existing M&S food store on Victoria Road West in Cleveleys town centre is expected to close around the time the Norcross outlet opens. The impending closure of the smaller store has led to a protest campaign to try and keep the it open, as residents say the location of the new one is inaccessible for older people who do not have the use of a car.

They also argue it will be detrimental to Cleveleys town centre itself, pulling shoppers away from the high street.

The proposals for a new store were approved by Wyre planning in October last year, subject to a 106 agreement. This required the developers to confirm financial contributions towards Travel Planning and to appropriately secure Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), without which the store plans would nit be able to proceed.

In December the final agreement was reached, signalling that the project could press ahead, subject to various planning conditions being met. Meanwhile, a major housing scheme of 300 homes is progressing on the neighbouring former DWP site, via developer McDermott Homes.