A POPULAR retailer wants to add extra storage to its site due to a “significant increase in demand” during the Christmas period.

M&S, on Stane Retail Park, Stanway, has applied for planning permission to Colchester Council.

If it is successful, it will gain permission to add four temporary refrigerated storage containers to its site between November 1  and January 31 each year.

Each container will be 40ft long, 8ft wide and nearly 10ft high.

The storage containers would be based outside at the back of the M&S store.

M&S wants to add the storage containers for the Christmas period, the application says.

It said: “Similar to other retailers, there has been a significant increase in the demand M&S experiences every year over the peak Christmas period.

“This places significant pressure on the back-room storage within the store.

“Having a temporary storage facility on site will allow customers’ food orders to be stored in appropriate conditions in advance of collection, as well as providing much-needed storage space to enable colleagues to maintain the supply of goods by replenishing the shelves on a regular basis through the day.”

The application says the storage containers will meet the store’s “operational requirements” at an “exceptionally busy time of the year, with an higher-than-average turnover of stock”.

A decision is yet to be made.