M&S continues inward investment into Priory Vale

Keeping The Orbital Shopping Centre at the heart of Priory Vale

The newly expanded Marks & Spencer Foodhall at Orbital Shopping Park has been getting strong feedback from residents. While I was at the Orbital Market this weekend, several people commented on how much they valued the changes. Many praised the layout, product range and overall quality, with some calling it the best M&S experience in the area. It is clear the store has made a real impression.

The expansion added around 40 percent more floor space, taking the store to nearly 60,000 square feet. Millions of pounds have been invested into transforming the former fashion units into a modern, spacious Foodhall with self-service tills, fresh counters, and a wide selection of everyday and specialist items.

Photo credit: https://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/25211461.first-look-inside-new-marks-spencer-foodhall-swindon/

These improvements reinforce Orbital’s role as the town centre for Priory Vale. It is more than a shopping destination. It is where people come together, meet friends, run errands and spend time as a family. As our community grows, so does the need for facilities that reflect and support that growth.

We welcome this scale of investment, especially when it clearly responds to what local people want. The addition of a new café, due to open later this summer, will add further to what Orbital offers. It is encouraging to see this momentum and we hope it continues.

Many residents have also raised the need for a post office and local banking facilities to return. These services are essential for many and are often expected in a true town centre.

If more units become available, what would you like to see at Orbital? Whether it is healthcare, hospitality, services or something else entirely, your views help shape what comes next.

Marks & Spencer’s expansion shows what is possible when investment aligns with community needs. Let’s make sure we keep building on that progress.