Marks and Spencer has announced plans to close its store in Hexham, Northumberland.
M&S said the closure was part of its “store rotation programme”.
Staff are understood to have been informed of the plans this week.
Regional manager Philip Barker-Thomson said employees would be offered alternative roles where possible if the proposals went ahead.
He said: "Shopping habits are changing, so we’re rotating our store estate to make sure we have the right stores with the right space to offer customers a brilliant shopping experience."
M&S said the closure was part of its “store rotation programme”
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Mr Barker-Thomson added: “Over the last year alone, we have invested £13million in our stores in the North East, including a full renewal of our store in Newcastle city centre and the upcoming opening of our new Washington Galleries store later this spring.
“We would like to thank all our customers who have shopped in the store, and we will be working hard to keep serving them in our other stores across the North East and online at marksandspencer.com.”
M&S has not announced when the Maidens Walk site is set to shut for the final time.
An M&S spokesperson said: "We have announced that we are investing £480million in bigger, better stores across the UK. Our store rotation and investment programme is about making sure we have the right stores, in the right place, with the right space.
“Whilst our store rotation programme involves closing some stores, it also means relocating and opening new stores in locations across the country.
"In the last year alone, we have opened 22 new stores and store renewals across the UK, including brand new stores in Leeds, Liverpool, Birmingham, Manchester and Thurrock and new M&S Foodhalls in locations such as Stockport, Wrexham, Barnsley, Clacton, Linlithgow and Coleraine."
However, the decision has come as a blow for Hexham residents, with one person telling the BBC: “It’s just another nail in the coffin.
“Hopefully big independent stores will be able to keep Hexham going.”
Another said: “I'm devastated, it's my favourite shop. And Hexham's just dying.”
Marks and Spencer is set to shut its High Street West store in Sunderland, but a new site in the area is in the pipeline, according to reports.
In 2019, M&S announced plans to cut 110 main stores as part of an overhaul.
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M&S opened nine stores in November last year, the biggest number of sites opened by the retailer in a single month.
The company said its store rotation programme ensures M&S has “the right stores, in the right place, with the right space”.
Last year, they said they were aiming to rotate from a base of 247 stores to 180 higher quality, higher productivity full line stores, selling its Clothing, Home and Food ranges.
They also plan to open more than 100 “bigger, better” food sites by the financial year 2027/28.
GB News has contacted M&S asking for comment.
