‘Bigger St Martin’s M&S store will mean greater food range’
A larger M&S store at St Martin’s will allow the range of foods to be expanded and the building to become more environmentally friendly, Creasey’s director Jonathan Creasey has said.
A planning application has been submitted to close the petrol station at the Les Merriennes site and remove the canopy, and to extend the store over its footprint.
Mr Creasey said the company had been planning the project for about two years.
The former car showroom was first converted into the food shop about 20 years ago.
‘The M&S food brand has expanded over the last 10 years, and now it is a bit too small,’ he said.
‘This will mean we can increase and expand the ranges.’
L’Islet M&S is about 40% bigger than St Martin’s, and Mr Creasey said they had found that extra space meant they could offer more products.
If the plans are approved then St Martin’s will end up larger than L’Islet.
The project also aims to update the building, with more efficient refrigeration, LED lighting and better insulation.
Mr Creasey said making the business greener was important to the company.
While building work will be required, Mr Creasey said the plan was to keep the store open throughout the expansion.
The store has in the past experienced problems with demands for parking.
This new scheme will see the overflow gravel tarmacked, which he said this would make things easier for customers.
The plans have only just been submitted.
Mr Creasey said in an ideal world he would like to start work later this year, but this would be subject to planning permission and tendering for a builder to carry out the work.
Creaseys has had the franchise for M&S in the island for more than 50 years and has three food branches locally – St Martin’s, L’Islet and Town.
Mr Creasey said L’Islet and the Quay had both been improved in the last five years.
‘So it was St Martin’s turn for investment.’
