No date yet set for demolition of Sunderland's former M&S store
The Marks & Spencer branch was closed in May 2024.
No date has yet been set for demolition of the former Marks & Spencer building in Sunderland’s High Street West.
The building is owned by Sunderland City Council, but Marks and Spencer are responsible for it until their lease on it runs out at the end of March 2027.
M&S have tried to sub-lease the three-storey building since August 2024 but an “all enquiries” sign still hangs from the building.
The shop was closed in May 2024, although M&S never fully revealed the reasons for the closure. At the time they were directly asked by the Echo if the outlet was making a profit or loss.
Social impact developer Capital & Centric has unveiled its plans for The Lanes, a project including 216 homes on High Street West. The scheme involves the land still occupied by the building, which sits between Cumberland Street and Green Street - the covered pedestrian walkway leading to St Mary’s car park.
Drawings show the former shop being replaced by what is referred to as Plot 21: “A new L-shaped five-storey residential block sitting between Queen Street (sic) and Cumberland Street with 44 new homes.”
The M&S façade does not appear in the drawings, despite reports in 2025 that it could be retained. A public consultation event on the plans was held this month.
The Echo asked the council what condition the M&S building is in and for an update, including a timescale.
The council replied: “Sunderland City Council is the freeholder of the property which is subject to a lease to Marks & Spencer and forms part of the flagship Riverside Sunderland regeneration project.
“Leading social impact developer Capital & Centric is leading plans for The Lanes, which will create an exciting new residential-led mixed-use development on the north side of High Street West.
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“Capital and Centric held a consultation event on Thursday, 8 October, 2026, where residents and stakeholders had an opportunity to view and comment on its proposals for this vibrant new city centre community.
“Full details of the proposal are available via the following link and Capital & Centric is currently considering the feedback received ahead of submitting a planning application for the proposed development in the coming months.”
The link is www.capitalandcentric.com/project/sunderland. It does not yet offer a timescale.