M&S and Next to close stores in Milton Keynes

British Land’s Kingston Centre in Milton Keynes is set to lose two key tenants as the wave of store closures continues to unfold throughout the UK.

Marks and Spencer and Next are both closing their stores at the local centre, following the departure of Mamas & Papas two months ago.

Kingston still houses popular retailers like Clarks, Tesco, Boots, Homesense, Claire’s and Wilkos. Wholly owned by British Land, the 380,000 sq ft centre also features a leisure terrace with places to eat including Giraffe, Prezzo, Chiquito and Nando’s.

Both M&S and Next blamed the closures on the change in UK shopping habits, reported MK Citizen on Tuesday. Marks & Spencer will close at the end of next month and Next in June.

John Turner, M&S head of region, said: “Shopping habits are changing, so we’re reshaping our store estate so it is fit for the future, ensuring it meets the needs of customers today – and those of tomorrow.

“Closing our Kingston Park store in Milton Keynes at the end of February is a difficult but necessary part of these changes.

“Our priority will be supporting our great team and we will offer redeployment to all colleagues including in our other local Milton Keynes stores.”

Marks & Spencer is planning to close more than 110 stores across the UK in a bid to rectify its mistake of being too slow to close “old-fashioned” branches over the past 20 years.

Next has made no plans to significantly reshape its store portfolio, but chief executive officer Lord Wolfson said last year the company has “too much rent and rates”.

M&S and Next to close stores in Milton Keynes

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