A CHANGE to the M&S store in Cheshire Oaks, Ellesmere Port, has been given the go-ahead.

Marks and Spencer had applied to make an alteration to the superstore, which first opened its doors in 2012, to change one of its facilities.

The retailer, which recently commented on the future of its Cheshire Oaks branch amid the news that 25 per cent of its larger stores would be closing, submitted plans to Cheshire West and Chester Council.

The plan was to remove the in-house M&S banking facility and replace it with an opticians.

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As part of the plans, M&S said: "The retail industry is continually evolving as a result of consumer preferences and technology changes.

"In response to this, retailers, such as M&S, regularly review their store format in order to enhance the offer and meet customers’ expectations.

"One of these changes, which has been trialled in M&S stores elsewhere in the country, is the introduction of an optician’s concession.

"Operated by Owl Opticians Ltd on behalf of M&S, this service has been welcomed by M&S shoppers who have given it a satisfaction rate of 96%."

The plans stated the proposed opticians would replace the banking facility and accordingly occupy the same location to the rear of the first floor.

The proposed facility included consulting/treatment rooms for both eye and ear appointments, with a range of glasses on display, including M&S branded and third-party frames.

A planning officer for the council stated the "main issue" with the plans related to the town centre/retail policy and whether allowing a new opticians resulted in harm to the vitality and viability of the town centre.

The officer concluded it would not "adversely affect the vitality and viability of Ellesmere Port town centre, where there are four other opticians.

The officer added: "There may be some adverse impact, for example customers choosing to visit the M&S store for the optician may be less likely make a linked trips to the town centre, than if they were visiting a town centre optician, so there will be some limited adverse impact in terms of loss of trips to the town centre; and this will represent a loss of potential linkage for other (shopping) purposes.

"However this is not considered to be a significant impact or loss given the overall scale of the proposal; and similar to that of the permitted banking facility operation."

The plans were recommended for approval and were formally given permission last month by the authority.