John Lewis starts work on renovation project at its Peter Jones shop on Sloane Square

John Lewis has embarked on a multi-million pound renovation of its Peter Jones flagship on Sloane Square, as it seeks to reinvigorate its estate following the permanent closure of a third of its stores in the pandemic.

Commitment to start comes just under a year after the department store chain got the green light to revamp the outside of the building.

There will be a renovation of the curved glass façade, ground floor shop windows, entrances and canopy, and a new, larger, more accessible entrance on King’s Road.

In addition, outline planning permission is in place for more work should John Lewis want to do so in future, including opening up the seventh-floor garden terrace to the public.

It worked with heritage consultants Purcell and architects, Sergison Bates on the plans.

Founder John Lewis handed control of Peter Jones to his son John Spedan Lewis in 1914 and it is now one of the chain’s flagships.

Employee-owned John Lewis Partnership, which is also behind Waitrose, has been making a number of changes to its estate. Last month said it was not planning to reopen eight of its 42 John Lewis shops from lockdown, adding to eight closures last year.

It said it could no longer sustain a large John Lewis branch in some locations but is looking to invest in existing stores.

Pippa Wicks, executive director, said: “We want to reinvigorate the shop as a public asset, loved by those who live next to it.”