Marks and Spencer have said that they are ready to push ahead with their expansion plans at the Crescent Link retail park but blamed the planning system for holding up the development.
The British multi-national retailer said that they remained 'committed' to the proposals but called on the council to make a decision over the plans at the "earliest opportunity".
A spokesperson for Derry City and Strabane District Council said a full planning application was submitted by an agent on behalf of a number of retailers for a proposed development at Crescent Link in February 2021.
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The spokesperson that council officers remain "actively engaged" with and in regular discussions with the agent acting on behalf of the retailers.
Meanwhile, In a statement, Marks and Spencer said: “We are still committed to the expansion of our M&S Foodhall at Crescent Link Retail Park in Derry-Londonderry to serve local customers within the city.
"The new store working alongside our City Centre store would support 70 jobs and would provide our customers with a better and bigger shopping experience with over 5,000 product lines.
"We would welcome a decision from the Council on our plans at the earliest opportunity.”
If approved, it's understood that Marks and Spencer would move into a portion of the current Homebase facility, with a view of resizing the current unit to facilitate both stores.
The plans are part of a wider £5million investment plan from the owners of the retail park, David Samuel Properties.
The refurbishment would also create additional parking spaces, a new exit lane from the south car park and improved pedestrian links.
Derry City and Strabane District said: "This is a major retail application, it is a complex proposal and there are a number of issues Council has to take into consideration as part of an application of this scale, including the fact that Crescent Link is currently a bulky goods retail park as well as a number of strategic planning technical issues including retail impact, traffic impact and congestion.
"The Council is committed to continuing to work closely with the agent, the consultants and consultees to review the submission and get further feedback so that a full report and recommendation can be brought before a future meeting of the Council’s Planning Committee for Elected Members consideration."
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