COUNCILLORS have granted permission for food to be sold from the former Debenhams store – opening up the way for Marks and Spencer to return to Stevenage.

According to plans – submitted to Stevenage Borough Council in March – the site on the Roaring Meg retail park is set to become a giant 9,475 sqm M&S store.

It would, according to the plans, be split over two floors and would offer a full range of M&S goods – including a food hall and a cafe.

But crucially, as well as some external alterations to the building, it would require permission for 'the sale of food not associated with a cafe or restaurant'.

On Thursday (May 27) the proposals were given the green light by a meeting of the council's planning and development committee.

And that decision has been welcomed by leader of the council Cllr Sharon Taylor.

"This is a real boost for Stevenage, and a vote of confidence in our plans to regenerate the town," she said.

"We look forward to welcoming Marks and Spencer back to Stevenage along with the job opportunities they will create for local people."

Meanwhile the council's executive member for environment and regeneration Cllr John Gardner said: "This is fantastic news for the Stevenage area and will aid our post-Covid recovery plans.

"This planning decision will help to bring even better local jobs and exciting employment opportunities to our town."

The flagship store – on the Roaring Meg retail park – was closed earlier this year, when Debenhams went into administration.

And according to documents submitted with the planning application, that would have led to the loss of around 70 jobs.

But, say the documents attached to the application, M&S – who vacated their previous Stevenage store in 2014 – could create up to 150 new part-time and full-time jobs.

However the ability to operate a foodhall element was said to be fundamental to the company's interest in a new store in Stevenage.

At the meeting, it was reported that there had been 132 people had contacted the council to express their support for the proposal.

The store – which was initially granted planning permission in 2014 – sits on the Roaring Meg retail park.

Among those trading close-by are Smyths Toy Superstore, Boots, Hobbycraft, Furniture Village and Argos.

And running alongside the current application is a further application that seeks to alter the car park – including a new link road, new cycle parking facilities, trolley bays and electric vehicle charging points.

The application was submitted on behalf of Stevenage Retail Limited (SRL), who are the owners of the Roaring Meg Retail Park.

Debenhams Stevenage story

Prior to shutting its doors for the final time last month, Debenhams had already entered into administration for a second time before liquidation, also known as winding-up - meaning ceased to exist as a company.

The retailer founded in 1778 had drastically slashed its store portfolio and stock, initially shedding more than 6,000 jobs since the spring as it desperately fought to stay alive.

However, the administrators said the restructured operation's future was 'highly uncertain' - and they had therefore 'regretfully concluded' Debenhams would be wound-up.

Debenhams first administration set the tone

Debenhams' initial 2019 administration completely wiped out shareholders, and forced an initial raft of many store closures, while slashing its staff numbers from 25,000 in March 2019 to around 12,000 now.

Last year's collapse was triggered by Debenhams' £560m debt, which came from private equity owners before it was floated on the stock market in 2006 - with one banker explaining that Debenhams was a 'bomb waiting to go off'.

Such a debt pile, added to long leases on high street stores, didn't give Debenhams a chance to innovate or keep pace with online competitors.

Debenhams at Roaring Meg

The Debenhams shop in the Roaring Meg Retail Park only opened three years ago, in August 2017, and prior to the pandemic had been noted for strongest sales increase across all of their shops.

However, after falling into administration for the second time in the spring - and with no other bidders interested in saving the renowned company - staff across its 124 stores sadly lost their jobs, paving the way for M&S to use the site.