Marks and Spencer could still return to Lichfield, a senior manager at the company has revealed.
The retailer closed a shop in the Three Spires Shopping Centre after the failure of the Friarsgate development.
The company had hoped to open a larger food store as part of the development – but admitted there were no viable sites once the long-awaited development bit the dust.
Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant contacted Marks and Spencer to see if they might replicate a trial in Sutton Coldfield which saw the company’s food offering appear in a WHSmith shop.
He also suggested another retailer could be moving out of the city to free up a suitable location.
Marks and Spencer’s government affairs manager David Leach said: “The WHSmith trial is focused on four locations and we’re going to evaluate the results before determining whether it is something that could be rolled out more widely.
“I’ve passed on the intelligence regarding the other store to colleagues in the property team.
“We also have agents working locally who are very aware of our requirements for a new Marks and Spencer store.”
Mr Fabricant said he was pleased to receive a positive response.
“Lichfield meets Marks and Spencer’s rigorous requirements so I am still hopeful of their return to the city in due course,” he said. “But I am also aware that it is a tough time in retailing with competition from online food stores.”
