DEPARTMENT store giant John Lewis has announced an opening date for its new £15 million store in York.

The 92,000 sq ft shop, which has been under construction since last May, will open on Thursday, April 10.

The new store, which is part of the £90 million Vangarde development at Monks Cross, is John Lewis's first opening of 2014, and will be the chain's 41st shop.

It will be the first day of trading for many of the 300 new staff who have been taken on by John Lewis.

Robert Garnish, branch manager at John Lewis York, said: “Having grown up in Yorkshire, I am excited to announce the completion date of our multi-million pound investment in the area.

“Together with my team of Partners (staff) we are looking forward to welcoming customers through the doors.

“We’ve been so grateful for the support from the community since we announced this project, and we can’t wait to reveal the shop on April 10.”

Last month John Lewis revealed it had received an "overwhelming response" to job positions at its new York store after almost 2,000 people applied for the 300 vacancies.

The York store will be the retailer’s most sustainable shop to date with features including a planned wildlife wall alongside sustainable building design elements such as low energy lighting and photovoltaic cells on the roof to generate energy.

John Lewis’s opening coincides with the opening of the neighbouring new Marks & Spencer store, which is also opening on the Vangarde development, creating 200 jobs.

The 100,000sq ft store will be one of the retailer’s biggest in the region covering fashion, beauty, food and homeware.

In light of the new opening, the existing Marks & Spencer at Monks Cross will close on April 9, with the Coppergate Centre shop set to shut on April 26.

Alongside John Lewis and Marks & Spencer, Next is also opening a homeware store at the site.

Only one unit at the development remains available for let after Ed’s Easy Diner completed a deal last month. It adds to food brands already lined up for the development, including Costa Coffee, Prezzo, Nando's, Frankie & Benny's and York's first Giraffe restaurant will all be open for business in April this year.