Your chance to live in a John Lewis store…sort of
Your chance to live in a John Lewis store…sort of
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Coming to an estate agent near you? John Lewis & Partners wants to put excess space "to good use"
John Lewis is planning to turn retail space it no longer needs into affordable housing as part of a strategic review of the partnership.
It said it was talking to third parties about "mixed-use affordable housing".
"As we repurpose and potentially reduce our shop estate, we want to put excess space to good social use," said John Lewis chairwoman Dame Sharon White.
Dame Sharon said the pandemic has sped up the shift to online shopping and the business will become "digital first".
"As we repurpose and potentially reduce our shop estate, we want to put excess space to good social use," she said.
John Lewis, which also owns the Waitrose supermarket chain, recently announced plans to close eight of its 50 department stores. putting 1,300 jobs at risk.
In a letter to staff - who are known as partners - Dame Sharon said she expects John Lewis department stores to generate 60% of its business from online compared to the pre-coronavirus outbreak level of 40%.
She said Waitrose's online business will "rise above