Debenhams and M&S units still empty on Slough High Street

Marks & Spencer's vacated its enormous unit that it had held since 1933 on High Street in July 2017, leaving just a shadow of its former sign.

The clothing retailer axed the store and five others across the country in a move to have more small sized food shops and less clothes and home outlets to meet changing consumer demands.

Just one year prior in November 2016 Queensmere Observatory Shopping Centre was bought by AIDA (Abu Dhabi Investment Authority).

AIDA are the current developers of a proposed scheme to demolish Queensmere Observatory Shopping Centre in stages, rebuilding the space as a mix of residential, commercial and retail spaces.

Since M&S's closure, there has not been any planning permissions sought for the unit which has stood empty for six years.

Next door, a protruding Debenhams sign is all that is left of the department store chain which packed up its high street offering by closing all stores by May 2021 in a move to online trading.

In January 2020 Debenhams closed its store, ending its 30 years on the High Street.

Later that same year, Factory Outlet announced it would be moving into the unit in August boasting homeware, fashion, gifts, seasonal items and electrical goods.

However the brands time in Slough was short lived and Factory Outlet has since shut up shop.

Both units now stand vacant and are included in the boundary of the Queensmere site awaiting demolition.

While the High Street store fronts can still be seen by passers by, their entrances within Queensmere have since been boarded off as part of the first phase of the redevelopment which began in January 2023.

It is unknown if the two units have been taken off the market or whether there is little interest in them.

The developers have been approached for comment about the units.