In a major boost for the local community, Marks & Spencer (M&S) has confirmed it will reopen its long-shuttered store on Putney High Street—seven years after it closed in April 2018. While no formal opening date has been announced, refurbishment work is expected to begin later this year, with the store likely to reopen in late 2025 or sometime in 2026.
The move is part of a wider £90 million investment by M&S to strengthen its presence across London, including the launch of six new food halls and the refurbishment of 11 existing stores. The Putney location—once a local retail anchor—will return as a modern food hall, reflecting M&S’s renewed focus on fresh food and high street convenience.
The Putney branch, which served the area for nearly 90 years before its closure, was originally shuttered as part of the retailer’s national restructuring programme. At the time, the company stated it was responding to changing shopping habits and would focus its resources on more viable store formats and locations. Staff were redeployed to nearby branches, but the physical site remained unused.
Source of frustration and campaigning
For years, the empty building at 59 Putney High Street became a source of frustration for residents. Despite interest from community groups, charities, and potential occupiers, M&S refused to sublet the site. The company cited serious issues with the property, including major roof damage, water ingress, and damage resulting from unauthorised entry during the pandemic. These conditions, M&S said, made it unsuitable for any interim use.
Local criticism grew over time, with residents and business leaders accusing the retailer of “land banking”—intentionally holding onto a prime high street location to prevent competitors from moving in, despite having no short-term plans of its own. The site remained boarded-up and visibly deteriorating, a high-profile symbol of the wider struggles facing Putney’s shopping district.
Now, that impasse appears to be coming to an end. With a firm commitment from M&S to invest in the site, the store will be brought back to life in the form of a next-generation food hall. Refurbishment is expected to begin in 2025, with the timeline for opening depending on the progress of structural works and planning permissions.
Possible revitalisation – but a long way to go
The announcement has been met with broad support from local councillors, traders, and residents alike. The return of a national retailer of M&S’s stature is seen as a potential catalyst for Putney High Street’s recovery—boosting footfall, improving confidence, and filling what has long been one of its most prominent vacancies.
While the community remains mindful of the years of inaction, the decision to return signals renewed commercial confidence in the area. For many, the reopening of M&S marks not just the comeback of a familiar brand, but a hopeful turning point for the high street as a whole.
We’ve put together a full history of the Marks & Spencer Putney saga—its closure, the years of vacancy, and the battle to bring it back. Read it here.
