Marks And Spencer confirms flagship Swansea Oxford Street store will close as retailer reshapes estate

Marks And Spencer has confirmed it will close one of its flagship city centre stores later this year, announcing plans that staff were informed of this week and which form part of a wider programme to reshape its store estate. The retailer said the Swansea Oxford Street store, open since 1957 and operating as a full-line branch with a café, is expected to shut in late 2026, subject to consultation.

What Marks And Spencer said about the closure

Writing to council leader Rob Steward, M&S Head of External Affairs Adam Hawksbee set the decision in the context of a UK-wide programme intended to ensure the business has the right stores in the right spaces to deliver an excellent shopping experience. the move follows a sustained decline in sales over the past 10 years that has left the store no longer viable in its current format.

Details on the Swansea Oxford Street site

The Oxford Street branch has operated as a full-line store with an in-store café and has been part of the city centre since 1957. The retailer described the current building and location as no longer suitable for its business model, pointing to a broader pattern of change across its estate.

Why the closure is happening and the wider programme

The announcement is presented as part of a national strategy to reshape store footprints. The company framed the programme as designed to secure "the right stores, in the right place, with right space, " and linked the Swansea decision to a decade-long decline in sales at this location. The proposed closure is subject to consultation, and the timing is stated as an expected shutdown in late 2026.

Council reaction and local efforts to retain a presence

Council leadership described the decision as hugely disappointing. The council leader, identified in different references as Rob Steward and Rob Stewart, said work had taken place behind the scenes to engage with senior decision makers to avoid the store being included in previous rounds of closures and that the council had encouraged the retailer to invest. The leader said the council does not agree with the decision and cannot support it, but will do what it can to retain the brand in the city and help find an alternative store location in Swansea.

Impact on staff, shoppers and next steps

The retailer acknowledged the impact on staff and shoppers and said the proposal will be disappointing for some. The company stated it will prioritise supporting employees and will explore alternative roles at nearby stores wherever possible. A council spokesperson described the news as extremely disappointing for staff and shoppers and confirmed local officials have spent several years actively working to prevent the closure at this location.

Local context and commitment to finding alternatives

The council spokesperson noted the retailer has already closed 90 historic locations while investing in new store sites, and emphasised that the decision is not presented as a reflection on Swansea as a retail destination but as part of a wider national strategy. Local they will continue working in the coming weeks and months to seek a new site that meets the retailer's needs and keeps the brand in the city. The council also stated it remains determined to ensure the city centre continues to grow and attract major brands, and that its immediate thoughts are with the store's staff and that it is committed to supporting them through this period of uncertainty.

Details may evolve during the consultation process; the proposed timetable and any final decisions remain subject to that consultation.