Marks & Spencer says it is moving away from town centres and plans to close 32 stores over the next three years.
The chain said the shift to online shopping during the pandemic had "increased the imperative" to reduce its clothing and home trading space.
Many town centres had "lost impetus" due to "failed local authority or government policy".
The BBC reported it was now relocating some shops from older, multi-floor buildings with poor access and parking.
"As a result, a high proportion, but not all, of our relocations are to the edge of town," the retail giant said.
M&S said it was planning around 15 new full-line stores and 40 new food stores over the next three years.
The company added that it was investing in a number of stores which had been relocated to the edges of towns, including to former Debenhams sites in Leamington Spa and Thurrock.
It is part of a long-term plan to overhaul its large stores. The shake-up will eventually see the closure of some 110 main stores as it focuses on fewer but better locations.
A total of 68 of these main-line stores have already shut and the retailer confirmed another 32 will go over the next three years.
Boss Steve Rowe told reporters M&S was "moving with the customer, where the customer is working and shopping".
He said the chain had "some fabulous city and town centre stores" but it had to ensure its portfolio was "balanced" and there would be more of a bias towards food in the future.