Rooftop revamp to pave way for arrival of Marks & Spencer to Matlock

The car park, owned by Derbyshire Dales District Council, will close on Monday, February 8, so M&S can move into the space below.

The closure of the car park and stairwells linking the car park to Bakewell Road, is the first phase of a three-month programme of improvements part- funded by the council.

The renovations will include the complete resurfacing and remarking of the parking area, and the division and fitting out of the existing store into two units. 

The main unit will be an M&S Simply Food store.

In October last year the district council opted to retain ownership of the supermarket site and improve the rooftop car park rather than take up M&S’s offer to buy the site outright .

This included the supermarket, existing roof top car park, former bus station and market hall accommodation. 

Councillors felt there was a financial risk of exchanging a major income stream for a single capital receipt, but M&S are still moving into Matlock on a leaseholder basis.

There are currently 40 employees at the store and the Co-op have said they will have the chance to transfer to M&S with the same terms and conditions.

A M&S spokesperson said: “We are looking to bring an M&S Food Hall to Matlock.”