Milton Keynes John Lewis store not among eight newly confirmed closures and will reopen after lockdown

Eight more John Lewis stores will not reopen and plans are in place to close those shops permanently.

The announced shops are in York, Peterborough, Sheffield, Aberdeen, Ashford and Tunbridge Wells in Kent, Basingstoke, Hampshire, Chester and Cheshire.

These closures affect 1,465 jobs within the company that are now at risk.

But Milton Keynes at Centre: MK will reopen next month when non-essential shops are allowed to re-open on April 12. Provided Coronavirus case numbers remain stable, the vaccination rollout remains on track and that no new scientific findings force the Government to adapt their current roadmap.

The chain closed down eight shops last July, putting 1,300 jobs at risk, due to financial losses occurred during the pandemic.

Sharon White, the chairman of John Lewis Partnership, the department stores’ parent group, said: “Today’s announcement is incredibly sad news for our affected partners, for our customers and for the communities we’ve served over many years.

“The high street is going through its biggest change for a generation and we are changing with it. Customers will still be able to get the trusted service that we are known for – however and wherever they want to shop.”

The Guardian reports the company plans to make “every effort” to retain staff by finding new jobs for those affected, this will include offering people work at partner company, the major supermarket, Waitrose.