A new Marks and Spencer store in Croydon is recruiting 150 new employees ahead of its opening this Spring.

A new 38,000-square-foot shop in Purley Way will have a food hall and clothing department.

 It replaces the old John Lewis Home shop which closed down in 2020.

The company previously assured the new opening would be in addition to the current M&S in Croydon town centre.

In plans submitted to Croydon Council back in September 2021, the company said: “The proposed store at the site will be in addition to the company’s existing store within Croydon town centre.

"The town centre store will continue to be its largest and ‘primary’ store serving Croydon and the surrounding areas.

“The proposed store at the site is anticipated to meet a different catchment area and customer needs to the established store within Croydon town centre. For example, the proposed store at the site will provide dedicated facilities for ‘click and collect’ and other online procurement services.”

It is the first of 20 new shops from the chain due to open across the country.

Store manager, Camilla Harris, said: “Our local community is at the heart of M&S, so to be able to create 150 new job opportunities at Purely Way is truly fantastic.

"We are working closely with local job centres and employability schemes to find and train the best applicants from the local area for the wide variety of roles that are available, including bakers, visual merchandisers and customer assistants.”