Marks and Spencer has made considerable changes to its store portfolio in recent years following a significant announcement in October 2022.

The retail giant wanted to restructure its business and focus more on its food-only stores, closing 67 “lower productivity” locations over five years.

Several branches, including Cheltenham, Peterborough, Neath, and Aberdeen, have permanently closed. Now, another will follow in Sussex.

M&S had outlined plans to shut its Crawley branch in March and has now set a date for the store to pull down the shutters one last time.

Having been a popular fixture in Queensway for decades, the closure has rocked the local community since it was first rumoured. Crawley Borough Council leader Michael Jones even described the store’s loss as “a real blow for the town centre”.

Graham Bennett, M&S regional manager, said: “After consulting with our colleagues following our proposals earlier this year, our Queensway store will close on Saturday, November 16.

“Individual conversations continue with our colleagues; wherever possible, we will offer them alternative roles with M&S.

“Thank you to all our customers who have shopped at the store – we will continue to work hard serving you at our nearby Acorn Park M&S Food.”

While the two branches are just an eight-minute drive from one another, they’re a 35-minute walk apart, making them inaccessible to those unable to journey on foot.

According to Google Maps, it’s a shorter 19-minute journey via public transport, though this doesn’t soften the blow to locals who rely on the Queensway branch’s town centre location.

Speaking to The Argus, resident Graham Bourne said: “Crawley town centre has gone right downhill. The loss of M&S is another nail in the coffin.”

A second local, Tracey Sutton, told the publication: “Poor Crawley will have nothing left soon the last time I went up there it looked so sad. We need our shops.”

Marks and Spencer’s regional manager for the affected store credited the closure to changing shopping habits. “Our store rotation strategy is all about making sure we have the right stores with the right space – in the past year we have invested more than £12million in our stores across the South East”, said Graham Bennett.

The retailer confirmed that the store is just one of more than 100 M&S branches expected to close over the next few years.

As for the future of Crawley’s high street, the town centre boasts over 300 shops, which includes a mix of national and independent occupiers.

County Mall shopping centre, which opened in 1992, is the main shopping destination in the town. The scheme offers over 90 shops, including Primark, Next, B&M and Boots and is served by a 1,800-space car park.