John Lewis has chosen Chelmsford as the site for its third flexible-format department store.
The 119,000 sq ft store will anchor the second phase of the Bond Street retail development in the Essex city, which will include 20 units for shops, river-front restaurants and a cinema, and could be open by autumn 2014. It is predicted to create around 350 new jobs, and will represent an investment of some £15m for John Lewis.

The first of the retailer's new-format outlets is due to open in Exeter on October 12, with a second in York in 2013.

John Lewis managing director Andy Street said: "John Lewis Chelmsford will be our first shop in Essex. The Bond Street development in the city centre is a great fit for us and we look forward to bringing a flagship shop to Chelmsford."

John Lewis sees its flexible-format stores as a way of increasing its department stores' presence in the UK. Sized between the At Home shops and regular department stores, they will allow the business to open in locations that have been considered unsuitable for a large traditional John Lewis branch.

Mr Street added: "We're excited to see the rollout of this new format really starting to gather pace as we expand our reach to customers across the UK."