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Original poster

What will happen to the lovely old Debenhams buildings?

41 replies

LubaLuca · 15/05/2021 15:48

I'm thinking about the Debenhams buildings in two cities that I'm familiar with. They're huge, very old, purpose-built department stores, and I can't think of anything else they're likely to be used as.

They're far too big to be used by another retailer, would be hugely expensive to convert to office space (and probably useless in light of the recent shift to home working), and although I can imagine them being converted to interesting flats it would be very difficult to create the required parking per abode in city centres.

I do hope they aren't left to ruin Sad

OP posts:
MontysRoseGarden · 15/05/2021 15:50

the whole high street is in ruin thoughts they will likely go that route. ours is a lovely old building....but theres many like it

koalaroobear · 15/05/2021 15:51

I have heard the one in Leeds is being turned into yet more flats.

Ilovemaisie · 15/05/2021 15:52

The one in Clapham Junction is being turned into some sort of community hub I think. Before it was Debenhams it was called Ardding and Hobbs. When it was taken over by Debenhams I believe the agreement was to keep the original sign. The sign is still there even though all the Debenhams ones have gone.

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Karwomannghia · 15/05/2021 15:52

I think they sold their buildings and rented them back a while ago, but I know that’s not the question!
Seems to be turning into big food/entertainment type venues.

Blondiney · 15/05/2021 15:52

The one in Chester is glorious, proper old creaky floors and everything. Sad times.

Hoppinggreen · 15/05/2021 15:53

I was wondering about the one in Leeds , fab spot to live if it does end up as flats.
A lot of them are pretty big buildings and it’s going to be hard to find another retailer to fill the space

Pascha · 15/05/2021 15:56

Folkestone is being used as a vaccination centre. There has been talk of turning it into some sort of arts hub/cinema/theatre type thing but, as always, it'll still be being talked about in 20 years time.

Original poster
LubaLuca · 15/05/2021 15:57

@Blondiney

The one in Chester is glorious, proper old creaky floors and everything. Sad times.
Yes, Chester is one of the stores that first got me wondering. It's so big and higgledy-piggledy, and in such a prime retail location...

I really hope something worthwhile is done with them.

OP posts:
Volcanoexplorer · 15/05/2021 15:57

The one in Liverpool is really big. It’s a modern building and was an anchor store for Liverpool One (John Lewis is the other one). Surely it can’t just be left empty, but no idea what it’ll be.

MotherOfGodWeeFella · 15/05/2021 15:59

The Manchester one, an art deco building, will be restored with the ground floor for shops and restaurants and the rest offices.

Original poster
LubaLuca · 15/05/2021 16:07

@Volcanoexplorer

The one in Liverpool is really big. It’s a modern building and was an anchor store for Liverpool One (John Lewis is the other one). Surely it can’t just be left empty, but no idea what it’ll be.
Yep, the modern ones are also too big for other retailers. There just aren't that many retailers left who'd want to increase their high street presence.
OP posts:
DappledThings · 15/05/2021 16:10

@Pascha

Folkestone is being used as a vaccination centre. There has been talk of turning it into some sort of arts hub/cinema/theatre type thing but, as always, it'll still be being talked about in 20 years time.
That's a strong possibility. But there is a big plan for the town that includes it (and finally reopening the Leas Lift) which makes it a bit more likely it will move forward.

I couldn't get into it for my first jab and had to go ll the way to Chatham. Pleased to be going there for my second though.

Canterbury will be an interesting one. That's a much older building I think and split into two bits makes it fairly awkward a space for a lot of things.

Hopdathelf · 15/05/2021 16:27

If it can be split in two it’s probably easier to do something with.

badlydrawnbear · 15/05/2021 17:08

Apparently, the Nottingham one (big, old building, very central) is going to be turned into flats. I am in Birmingham where Debenhams and John Lewis have gone from the same shopping centre. I have no idea what they could possibly replace them with.

Westfacing · 15/05/2021 17:17

@Ilovemaisie

The one in Clapham Junction is being turned into some sort of community hub I think. Before it was Debenhams it was called Ardding and Hobbs. When it was taken over by Debenhams I believe the agreement was to keep the original sign. The sign is still there even though all the Debenhams ones have gone.
Last time I read the blurb on the hoardings it was going to be turned into a combination of food hall/market, bars, flats & offices, and community space.

Sounds like a good combination as these stores are just too large to be one single entity.

Sparechange · 15/05/2021 17:24

Of the two nearest me, one is being turned into a laser quest, trampoline and soft play

The other is the Clapham Junction Arding and Hobbs, which pp said is being turned into a mixed use offices, cafes, co-working space
I think they were also planning to put a hotel at the top but not sure how covid will have impacted that aspect of it

SkiingIsHeaven · 15/05/2021 17:28

I'd like the Chester one to have lots of individual shops like Affleck's Palace in Manchester.

Toddlerteaplease · 15/05/2021 17:38

I e been having the same thought. The one in Nottingham Is also In a nice building. much of the town centre is already empty. And don't mention the Broadmarsh!

looptheloopinahulahoop · 15/05/2021 17:40

The one in Exeter became John Lewis a few years ago, it is a six storey tower block. If JL decided not to use it it would probably make sense to knock it down as it's on its own and not joined to other buildings so something completely different could be done on the site.

The one in Torquay is joined to other buildings (if it is still there) and had an old style lift with stairs going around it. It's not that massive compared to other department stores so it could potentially be used for something else if it hadn't already gone pre-covid (not been for a while).

The one in Winchester isn't very big and I think could be repurposed.

I think Salisbury might have one too? Can't remember that building though.

Guildford has one with a standalone building too so in theory that could also be used for something else entirely.

Toddlerteaplease · 15/05/2021 17:40

@badlydrawnbear I didn't know that. Would anyone want to live there?!!! Do they switch Little John off at night?!

Hellcatspangle · 15/05/2021 17:41

The one in our town is being turned into an artisan food hall, which I think will do well. I'll miss Debenhams though.

TeenMinusTests · 15/05/2021 17:46

The Southampton one would be a good location for flats, but it is pretty square shaped so I'm not sure how that would work for natural lighting.

The Winchester one is relatively tiny and could be retail with accommodation / office space above, or possibly a restaurant.

Original poster
LubaLuca · 15/05/2021 17:51

@badlydrawnbear

Apparently, the Nottingham one (big, old building, very central) is going to be turned into flats. I am in Birmingham where Debenhams and John Lewis have gone from the same shopping centre. I have no idea what they could possibly replace them with.
Nottingham is the other one I know well. It's a fabulous building, another higgledy-piggledy one with all of those different floor levels. I'm glad there are plans for it.
OP posts:
Ghostlyglow · 15/05/2021 18:24

Ours is quite new. In a shopping centre and I imagine it will stand empty, like all the other closed shops. Our old BHS, across town, is still just empty after however long ago they all closed.