Marks and Spencer

Marks and Spencer Food Store

m-and-s-front

This is the architect’s view of the front of the store from Loughton High Road.
We thank Lyons+Sleeman+Hoare for permission to reproduce this drawing.

Local jobs
The store employs 75/80 staff plus 5 management, with 60 of these jobs going to local people.

Parking
There are 94 'pay and display' car parking spaces, monitored by a private firm. There is no 'minimum spend'. Shoppers have up to 1 hour free parking, with a charge of £1.00 for 2-3 hours, and £3.00 for 3-6 hours. There are no £50 penalty tickets. To non-customers and overstayers tariffs are in line with other local car parks. The car park opens 15 minutes before the store opens and the upper level closes at 11pm. In addition to the monitoring firm, M&S's own personnel maintain a supervisory role.

Deliveries
These will be early morning, and definite measures will be taken to minimise noise from reversing trucks. Links with Loughton

According to the management, this particular store represents a major investment by M & S as their spend on the Loughton store is two and a half times their average investment on a food-only store. They intend to become involved in Loughton. Part of the deal with EFDC is a contribution of £100,000 towards local road improvements.

History of the site

lambscarpark

Lamb’s Garage car park 2004
Photo by Ken Angold-Stephens

1930s - Became site of a petrol garage and motor works.

1960s - Site and business bought out by Lamb's of Loughton.

1970s - In 1979 planning consent was granted for a development comprising a supermarket with storage, offices above, and an underground car park. The intended occupier was Waitrose. This change was not implemented however and the planning consent lapsed.

1980s - In 1984 Lamb's garage closed. In 1986 EFDC bought the land, which then became a temporary public car park (130 spaces).

1990s - In 1992 Epping Forest District Council published a development brief for the site, showing a three-storey building, with shops on the ground floor, offices and residential above. In 1998 the local plan shows part of the site zoned for retail development.

Recent Background

In 2000, Sainsbury’s applied for planning permission to build a superstore in Old Station Road. Sainsbury’s application was judged an edge-of-town site. When planning permission is requested for edge-of-town or out-of-town developments, a district council is required by planning policy guidance to carry out a sequential test to establish whether there are suitable sites closer to the town centre.

Town sites are to be judged in the following order: town-centre sites, town-edge sites and out-of-town sites,with priority given to town centres.

At this time C.B. Hillier Parker was asked by EFDC to carry out a survey of the retail potential of various sites on or near the High Road. In their report, the Lamb’s Garage site was identified as suitable for a modest supermarket which would meet the convenience goods shopping needs of Loughton.

Subsequently C.B. Hillier Parker were instructed to prepare a development brief for the Lamb’s site. The objectives of their brief included:

To revitalise the site and bring it into long-term viable use.
To enhance the vitality and viability of Loughton town centre by widening the range, choice and quality of shopping provision.
To improve the environment and townscape of the Lamb’s Garage site through a high standard of development andenvironmental improvement.

In 2001 various supermarket companies were invited by EFDC to submit proposals for the Lamb’s site, based upon C.B. Hillier Parker’s report. M&S were chosen as the preferred company.

In September 2003, following discussion regarding size and other details, M&S submitted a detailed proposal.

In May 2004 planning consent was granted by Epping Forest District Council. The sale of the Lamb’s Garage site to M&S went ahead on the 9th of September. The car park closed 21st September. Building work on the site began 15th November 2004 and the new store opened on 21st September 2005.

This brings to fruition District Council plans for the development of the Lamb's Garage site, used for the past 18 years as a temporary council car park. LRA endorsed the idea of a quality foodstore within the town centre boundary, and lent its support for an M&S food store on the Lamb's site.

m-and-s-rear

This drawing shows the ground floor plan, including entrances and parking area.
Our thanks to Lyons+Sleeman+Hoare for permission to reproduce this drawing.