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PA
Marks and Spencer has named the next wave of stores earmarked for closure in its reorganisation plan, including those in Huddersfield, Hull and Luton.
The 17 proposed closures are part of the clothing, homeware and food retailer's five-year plan to shut more than 100 stores by 2022.
The latest plans will affect 1,045 staff, who will now be involved in a consultation process.
So far, 30 stores have closed and another eight have already been named.
The company wants to move a third of its sales online and plans to have fewer stores in better locations.
The 17 proposed store closures are:
- Ashford
- Barrow
- Bedford
- Boston
- Buxton
- Cwmbran
- Deal
- Felixstowe
- Huddersfield
- Hull
- Junction One Antrim Outlet
- Luton Arndale
- Newark
- Northwich
- Rotherham
- Sutton Coldfield
- Weston-super-Mare
The company says it will now consult with staff and listen to any alternative suggestions from them for how to keep the stores open.
No stores will close until this process has been completed and, in a statement, the company said it had "the intention of retaining as many people as possible".
'Never easy'
The closure programme has already affected 1,891 people, with 1,591 of them being redeployed to other parts of the business.
Sacha Berendji, M&S's retail, operations and property director, said "Proposing to close stores is never easy, for our colleagues, customers or the local community, but it is vital for the future of M&S.
"Where we have closed stores, we are continuing to see an encouraging number of customers choosing other nearby locations and shopping on M&S.com."