John Lewis has today announced an investment of £32m to fund an extensive refurbishment programme in four of its stores this year.
The spend will benefit the retailer's flagship department store on London's Oxford Street along with John Lewis High Wycombe, Kingston and Nottingham. And a further £25m is earmarked for other, smaller investments across the retailer's 39-shop estate before 2014.

Managing director Andy Street said the upgrades reinforced John Lewis' commitment to the high street.

"We want our shops to stand as vibrant beacons of what successful bricks-and-mortar retailing can bring to our towns and cities, complementing a rapidly-growing online business rather than being replaced by it," he stated.

The biggest single investment will be the £16m spend on the High Wycombe branch, where 35,000sq ft of back-office space will be converted to increase the shop's selling area by a third. Fashion, nursery and children's wear will all be extended.

In Oxford Street, £8m will be spent on a full upgrade of the lower ground floor, creating a home dining, entertaining and gifting emporium, while John Lewis Kingston will see a £7m refurbishment of its ground floor. An additional 7,000sq ft of ground floor selling space will be created to expand the beauty, fashion accessories and gifting departments.

John Lewis Nottingham will receive a £1m makeover of its first and third floors which will see an upgrade of the shop's beauty department.

All four stores will remain open throughout the work.