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JD Sports plans move into vacant M&S womenswear store in Week Street, Maidstone

The “King of Trainers” has revealed plans for its move into a former high street M&S store.

JD Sports will be taking over the vacant building in Week Street, Maidstone with the retailer preparing to make changes to the shopfront.

A drawing of what the new JD Sports store could look like. Picture: Maidstone council planning portal
A drawing of what the new JD Sports store could look like. Picture: Maidstone council planning portal

Papers to give the unit a new lease of life were first submitted to Maidstone council last summer and approved soon after.

But in the new year, the sportswear brand proposed new plans for the shop exterior.

They include a large JD logo, fascia signs and a suspended LED digital screen.

Drawings for the building’s new look also include large glass windows and three sets of double doors.

The womenswear branch of M&S in Maidstone's Week Street is to become a JD Sports. Picture: Google
The womenswear branch of M&S in Maidstone's Week Street is to become a JD Sports. Picture: Google

To view the plans search 25/500039/ADV on the borough council’s website.

The new store is set to open in spring 2025.

JD Sports already has a shop just a stone’s throw away from its new home in Fremlin Walk – it is not yet known what effect this will have on its current unit.

Recently the shopping complex was sold for £25m to the Frasers Group whose majority shareholder is Mike Ashley - the founder of sportswear rival Sports Direct.

The Plantbase Store and Longdan took over the men's and childrenswear store
The Plantbase Store and Longdan took over the men's and childrenswear store

Find out about planning applications and other public notices in your area by visiting PublicNoticePortal.uk

M&S had two stores in Maidstone town centre until the company permanently shut both branches in January 2022.

It came as a result of the retail giant opening an out-of-town flagship store at Eclipse Park near Junction 7 of the M20.

The former men’s and childrenswear branch was taken over by Longdan and The Plantbase Store, an Asian supermarket selling groceries, home appliances and kitchenware from the Far East.

Meanwhile, the womenswear and beauty store has sat vacant since M&S shut.

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