The Debenhams estate: where are we now?
Date published: 2023-01-10 Date modified: 2023-08-16
December 2022 marks two years since all Debenhams stores were set to close (with some reopening briefly to clear stock following the third lockdown). While the brand has continued to trade online following its acquisition by Boohoo, it left behind over a hundred stores across the UK. Due to their size and the changing physical retail climate, these units presented a challenge to fill. We have reviewed the latest developments across GB to provide a comprehensive update on the status of these stores, two years on from Debenhams’ collapse. Figure 1: Reoccupation status of former Debenhams stores, as of December 2022 (Source: Local Data Company) Figure 2: Reoccupation of former Debenhams stores by GB region, as of December 2022 (Source: Local Data Company) These latest findings reveal signs of positive progress across the former Debenhams estate. Alongside the take-up from major retailers, we have already seen several non-retail alternative uses put forward for these units; continued repurposing activity, particularly on high streets, will help to further drive vacancy down across regions. Given the challenges in the wider market, however, we are likely to see progress slow significantly.
Author
Sarah Abu-Amero, LDC Marketing Executive The Local Data Company
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Sarah joined LDC in 2021, having previously worked as a copywriter and social media manager. She supports the team with digital and written communication, planning and creating content for the company’s website and social accounts.
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