An M&S store left to wrack and ruin is set to be given a new lease of life with a sports fashion giant launching a bid to take over the site.

JD Sports has put in plans for the building in Week Street, Maidstone – which specialised in womenswear while operating as M&S – in hopes of reviving the town centre shop.

In papers submitted to Maidstone Borough Council, the popular retailer – which calls itself the “King of Trainers” – confirmed it would look to renovate the exterior of the building.

New glazed shopfronts could be installed with the proposals also including hopes of installing a suspended LED digital screen.

However, it is not yet known what effect this will have on the JD unit at Fremlin Walk - which is just a stone’s throw away from its new home.

The business has been approached for comment.

News of the move comes just months after the other M&S unit in Week Street was taken over by an Asian supermarket - a little more than two years after its closure.

Opening in January, Longdan sells products such as groceries and home appliances from Vietnam, Japan, Malaysia, Korea and other eastern countries.

M&S once had two stores just a few yards from each other in Maidstone town centre.

One sold womenswear and the other was home to menswear, kidswear, a food hall, and cafe.

In January 2022, the company permanently shut both branches – a huge blow to the high street after 100 years in the town.

It came as a result of the retail giant opening an out-of-town flagship store in Eclipse Park near Junction 7 of the M20.

The demise of Maidstone as the so-called shopping capital of Kent has been well-documented, with Fremlin Walk’s opening in 2005 failing to provide the lasting benefits residents initially hoped for.

Tim Hance, who previously helped plan and secure well-known brands such as Zara for the venue before it opened to the public, said earlier this year the council’s approval of the out-of-town Eclipse Park “destroyed” the town centre.

He said: “They have scored an own goal by giving planning permission for Marks and Spencer to move out of town into an ill-conceived location.”

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