Published
May 5, 2017
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John Lewis cancels Brighton plans, reflects changing consumer behaviour

Published
May 5, 2017

A strategy shift among major retailers that has seen them thinking more carefully about store opening plans has become clear with John Lewis pulling out of plans to open a central Brighton store.


John Lewis will not now open a store in Brighton



The town, which is located on the UK’s south coast, is beloved of the British middle classes and is a massive tourist destination, so would have seemed to be a perfect fit for John Lewis.

The company had purchased the central site occupied by a Boots branch two years ago and had revealed its plans for a new department store at the location later in 2015. But it has now said that it will not proceed given the work needed.

A company statement said the firm was disappointed: "We acquired the site positive that we could build a John Lewis shop, but having explored all options we cannot deliver a shop on this site with the extent of demolition and rebuilding required.” It also said that Boots has renewed its lease for the site so the property will continue to be occupied.

The local authority, Brighton & Hove City Council, also said it was disappointed as it had been convinced that John lewis would be a good addition to the retail line-up in the town centre.

But it added: “We’re aware too that consumer behaviour is changing. John Lewis - like other retailers – may well be feeling the impact of what they themselves have called a 'volatile market and profound structural changes' across the industry.”

UK retail is currently reeling from the fast migration of consumers online, a process happening in Britain faster than in any other global markets.

This has seen many big names re-visiting their physical store plans with supermarket giants in particular retreating from some of the sites they acquired during the expansion boom.

Other retailers are closing stores and it’s not only lossmaking sites that are being shuttered. Debenhams’ recent strategy update included news that it would close a number of stores, all of which are profitable, while M&S is also closing some department store-style locations to focus more on its foods.

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