Marks & Spencer has been given the green light to significantly expand its Foodhall at Kew Retail Park after Richmond Council approved plans to increase the amount of floor space dedicated to food sales.

The approved plans will see the food retail area grow from 743 square metres to 1,876.4 square metres, allowing the store to offer a much larger food range for local shoppers.

Council planning officers said the main concern with expanding convenience food retail at the site was the potential impact on nearby town centres and existing businesses.

However, a retail impact assessment submitted as part of the application found no suitable alternative sites within existing town centres and predicted no significant adverse impact on local trade.

The assessment was independently reviewed and accepted by council officers, who concluded the proposal met planning requirements.

Officers also noted that while additional deliveries and waste collections are expected, any resulting noise impacts are not considered to be significant.

The application attracted no objections from members of the public.

Speaking at Richmond Council's planning committee meeting on 21 January, Marks & Spencer's Town Planning Manager, Louis Scarfe, said the expansion would "ensure a best-in-class food offer for Kew and the wider area".

He also told councillors that the investment would bring "significant investment" to the store and create more than 30 new jobs, increasing the total number of people employed locally to around 180.

During the meeting, committee chair Councillor Jonathan Cardy asked whether the investment would include electric vehicle charging points in the car park. Scarfe said this was not currently being considered.

Cllr John Coombs said he saw no reason not to support the application, while Cllr Cardy said he was "disappointed" by the lack of EV charging plans but still backed the proposal.

Cllr Michael Butlin added that the expansion would be welcome news at home, joking that his wife was "unsatisfied" with the Marks & Spencer Foodhall in Teddington.

The application was approved unanimously by the committee.

Marks & Spencer currently operates from Units 5–7 at Kew Retail Park, opening Monday to Saturday from 8am to 10pm and Sundays from 11am to 5pm.

These opening hours will remain unchanged following the expansion.

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