M&S is also expected to open a small ‘foodstore’ at the old Matalan site on Leytonstone High Road, reports Marco Marcelline
Aldi has confirmed it will open a Leytonstone High Road store at the ex-Matalan site on “Thursday 3rd October”.
Sharing the news with the Echo, a spokesperson for the food retailer said “construction for the store is progressing well as we move towards opening on 3rd October this year”. They added that the opening will create “up to 35 jobs”.
A planning permission letter sent by Aldi representatives to the council confirms “another foodstore operator” will move to the site.
The council granted Aldi and the other food retailer permission to convert the building into two separate retail units in April, the letter states.
Though M&S signage has also gone up outside the former Matalan, the retailer is yet to officially confirm it is coming to Leytonstone.
Department store Matalan, which operated for over two decades in Leytonstone, closed its doors for the final time on 7th January.
When the Echo visited the store on its final day, shoppers expressed disappointment that it was closing as it was the only large clothing retailer in the area.
However, Aldi’s move to Leytonstone has been largely positively received by many online, with locals taking to social media to express their excitement.
Some, writing on Facebook, did however worry that traffic congestion would likely get “worse”.
According to a planning document seen by the Echo, access to the site’s car park will remain as existing via Kirkdale Road, though parking numbers will be reduced from 138 to a proposed 122. These will include eight accessible, ten parent and child, and two active electric vehicle spaces.
In its latest Local Plan regeneration document, the council has earmarked the Matalan site and its accompanying car park as having potential for up to “190 homes”. Alongside the desire for new homes by 2035, the council also states it would also like to deliver a “pedestrian-focused environment” that includes “spaces to sit and new landscaping”.
Throughout most of the 20th century, Bearmans, a historic department store that was frequently called the “Harrods of East London” occupied the space Aldi and M&S will move into. Bearmans began in 1898 after being set up by a 27-year-old entrepreneur Frank Bearman. It quickly flourished attracting thousands of loyal customers from across London and Essex before closing in 1983.
The Co-operative supermarket chain then replaced Bearmans before Matalan followed.
No news is bad news
Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.
The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.
If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.
Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.
Monthly direct debit
Annual direct debit
£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.
More information on supporting us monthly or annually
More Information about donations
