As shoppers move online, John Lewis has revealed plans to reduce the size of its flagship Oxford Street store.
The department store has applied for planning permission to turn three floors into office space, which it will rent out.
“Oxford Street is our largest and oldest shop and has a surplus of non-selling space compared to our newer shops. We have therefore made a planning application for the upper floors of the shop, to give us greater flexibility on how we use this space more efficiently in future, with the potential to have office space at the top of the building,” said a spokesperson.
“While no decisions have been made, any plans would look to further improve our customers’ experience.”
The group has so far closed 50 stores this year and expected to post high losses when it reveals half-year results on Thursday.
Before the pandemic, the department store showed signs of struggling as the group posted a 65% fall in sales in January this year.
in March, John Lewis announced plans to cut its annual staff bonus to the lowest level in almost 70 years.