Northampton's Debenhams not on list of store closures announced today

Debenhams has this morning listed 22 of the 50 stores it plans to close - but a further list will be revealed at a later date.
Debenhams in Drapery has not been named on the first list of store closures.Debenhams in Drapery has not been named on the first list of store closures.
Debenhams in Drapery has not been named on the first list of store closures.

It comes as part of a plan by new owners to revive the department store chain.

On the first list of stores earmarked for closure include stores in Altrincham, Wolverhampton, Welwyn Garden City and Stockton.

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Terry Duddy, Executive Chairman of Debenhams, said: “The issues facing the UK high street are very well known.

"Debenhams has a clear strategy and a bright future, but in order for the business to prosper, we need to restructure the group’s store portfolio and its balance sheet, which are not appropriate for today’s much changed retail environment.

"Our priority is to save as many stores and as many jobs as we can, while making the business fit for the future.”

Northampton's Debenhams store in Drapery, Northampton, is not on the list published this morning (Friday).

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Further store closures will be confirmed in due course and will be based on future trading performance, rental agreements and business rates.

In October last year the retailer was unable to confirm to the Chronicle & Echo if its Northampton store will be closed down.

The struggling 205-year-old department store chain announced it is shutting up to 50 stores - putting 4,000 jobs at risk - in a drastic bid to manage debts.

It comes after the Marks & Spencer store in Abington Street shut its doors in August in 2018, just years after neighbouring BHS closed overnight.

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Debenhams currently has 166 stores and has more than 20,000 employees.

Stores expected to close in 2020 include:

Altrincham

Ashford

Birmingham Fot

Canterbury

Chatham

Eastbourne

Flokestone

Great Yarmouth

Guildford

Kirkcaldy

Orpington

Slough

Southport

Southsea

Staines

Stockton

Walton

Wandsworth

Welwyn Garden City

Wimbledon

Witney

Wolverhampton