York ‘will reap big benefits from John Lewis’

The store will open in April and will be only the second in the hugely popular chain in Yorkshire.

It is opening at Monks Cross on the edge of the city and concerns have previously been expressed about the impact out-of-town shopping may have on York’s historic centre which attracts thousands of tourists every year.

But Susie Cawood, head of the York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, maintained the development was a coup for the city.

She said: “I think the fact that a brand such as John Lewis has chosen to invest in York shows confidence in the York economy. We are very much looking forward to April 10 when it opens.

“It shows that York is open for business. The council took the decision to allow planning permission for the site which is an enabling development. That was a huge step forward for York.

“I think in some quarters York was regarded as a chocolate box city and I think York Council have shown it can be bold.

“We see it in terms of York plc. The city is not going to lose The Shambles or the Minster so it will still be very attractive to people. John Lewis will bring in people from a large catchment area to visit York both out of town and city centre.”

Initial proposals for the shopping development where John Lewis is opening alongside a new Marks and Spencer attracted huge opposition two years ago amid concerns it would lure trade away from the city centre.

But Adam Sinclair, who championed the city centre’s cause and now chairs Team City York, a group working with the council to maintain York’s vibrant centre, said it was time to draw a line under those events.

“The time for that debate, which was never about any particular store is over. We are looking to work with John Lewis to leverage ‘Brand York’ because they are a great business.

“This will be the only John Lewis in Yorkshire north of Sheffield so it is a huge opportunity for this part of Yorkshire.”

York is the latest part of the region to see a revival in retail development that came to a virtual halt in the aftermath of the credit crunch. The Trinity Leeds shopping development opened last year and work has now started on the long delayed Westfield Broadway shopping centre in Bradford.

Sheffield City Council is also working on a new retail quarter scheme after the planned Sevenstone project stalled.

Branch manager Robert Garnish said: “We want to work with the city centre to build on York’s reputation as a retail destination. The city centre will always draw shoppers in and we want to help complement that.

“The new Vangarde Shopping Park is about York as a whole not just out of town. We’re keen to work with businesses across the city to ensure that the development supports economic success for the local catchment, regardless of where they’re located.

“Our existing local customers have been travelling to our regional department stores in Sheffield and Newcastle, and the new shop will plug the gap in that regional offer, and their expenditure will remain in York.”

Mr Garnish said the store had received 1,700 applications for the jobs available.

John Lewis is seen by many analysts as being one of the retailers which has adapted best to the growth of online shopping.

The company has also been feted by politicians from across the major parties who have suggested more companies should adopt its business model which gives every employee a share in the business and of its annual profits.