Marks and Spencer has confirmed it will close its Kirkgate store in Wakefield, ending decades of trading in the West Yorkshire city centre.
The retailer said the decision reflected changing shopping habits, with more customers choosing to shop online or visit out-of-town retail parks.
The closure has been described locally as a major blow to a city centre already under significant pressure.
In a statement shared on social media following the announcement, a post said: “We’re sorry to hear that M&S has announced it will be closing its Kirkgate store, after many years in Wakefield city centre.”
Customers responded with disappointment and concern.
One shopper said: “It was my family’s favourite shop.”
Another added: “Why are all the shops closing nowadays?”
The Wakefield closure forms part of a broader trend affecting high streets across Britain.
Retailers have increasingly reviewed the viability of older, town centre premises as footfall declines and operating costs rise.
Marks and Spencer has not confirmed a closing date for the Kirkgate store.
The company has previously said it continues to invest in its online operations and larger destination stores.
The Centre for Retail Research has forecast that around 17,350 retail premises will close during 2025.
Industry data suggests the challenges facing physical retail are intensifying
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This follows an already difficult year for the sector during 2024, approximately 13,000 shops shut permanently.
This represented a 28 per cent increase compared with the previous year.
Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the Centre for Retail Research, said the outlook remained concerning.
Mr Bamfield said: “The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025.”
Retail analysts say smaller and older units in traditional town centre locations are particularly vulnerable.
Many chains are focusing investment on fewer, larger sites while reducing overall estate size.
Retailers are also facing growing financial pressures.
The British Retail Consortium has estimated that changes to employer National Insurance contributions will add £2.3billion in costs to the sector.
Marks and Spencer launches ‘planet-friendly’ initiative in its cafés | Marks and Spencer / GETTY IMAGES
The increase is due to come into effect from April.
At the same time, the national minimum wage is set to rise to £12.21 an hour.
For workers aged 18 to 20, the hourly rate will rise to £10 – an increase of £1.40.
Retailers say these changes come as businesses continue to contend with high energy costs and weaker consumer spending.
The cost of living crisis has led households to cut back on discretionary purchases.
Mr Bamfield warned that the combined impact of rising costs and falling demand could lead to significant job losses.
“By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer’s household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020.”
The Centre for Retail Research has forecast that up to 202,000 retail jobs could be lost during 2025.
The closure of the Wakefield M&S store comes amid difficulties facing several well-known retail brands.
Claire’s and The Original Factory Shop have both entered administration, with thousands of jobs at risk at the two chains.
Nearly 300 stores could close if rescue deals are not secured.
Poundland has been reducing its store estate as part of efforts to stabilise its finances.
WHSmith has exited large parts of the high street, selling its retail arm and rebranding many locations.
River Island has confirmed plans to close more than 30 stores.
The closures form part of a wider restructuring programme.
Wakefield town hall
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Some of the shutdowns have continued into this month.
Nearly 170,000 retail jobs were lost during 2024, which marked a 41.9 per cent increase compared with the previous year.
It was the highest annual total since the peak of the pandemic in 2020.
During 2024, 38 major retailers fell into administration, including Homebase, The Body Shop, Carpetright and Ted Baker.
Retail industry groups say the coming year will be critical for the future of Britain’s high streets.
The closure of long-established stores such as Marks and Spencer in Wakefield highlights the challenges facing town centres across the country.