SHUTTERS DOWN
‘Insane’ cry shoppers as major DIY homeware chain with 145 branches to shut store doors permanently within weeks
Locals have been fiercely campaigning against the closure
A MAJOR DIY chain has confirmed it will be closing the doors on one of its branches within weeks.
The local council's planning committee has approved planning permission for two tower blocks on the Tesco Osterley and Homebase Syon Lane sites in Brentford.
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Homebase will permanently shut the doors on its Syon Lane store on April 13, the retailer has already announced a closing-down sale.
The sites will host tower blocks from two to 17 stories and provide 35% affordable housing, in total it should produce 2,150 homes.
Locals took to Facebook to share their thoughts on the news.
One user said: “Insane planning development.”
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“Everything for sale up to 40%,” said someone else.
Another user said: “What a shame I will miss Homebase, all the staff losing their jobs.”
A spokesperson for the chain told The Sun: “Our store in Brentford will close on April 13.
“Customers can still shop at our Hanworth store (6 miles away), or head to our website for everything they need for their home and garden projects.”
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Tesco has said it will be opening a replacement Tesco Extra store in Osterly, although a date has not yet been confirmed.
A Tesco spokesperson said: "We are pleased that planning permission has been granted for the redevelopment of our Osterley Extra store site and are working on plans for an improved store as part of this redevelopment.
"We will keep colleagues and the community updated as the scheme progresses."
Locals have been fiercely campaigning against the development but it was officially given the green light by Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities last year.
The DIY shop has already closed two stores at the end of last year - one in Plymouth and another in Banbury.
The retailer also pulled the plug on its shop at the O2 Centre on Finchley Road in London in December.
Homebase has closed 93 stores since it was taken over by Hilco Capital in 2018.
Hilco bought the hardware store chain for £1 from Australian firm Wesfarmers, which paid £340million for what has been dubbed one of the "most disastrous takeovers ever seen".
Prior to the takeover, Homebase had 250 stores at its peak with around 12,000 staff.
What is happening to the high street?
The pandemic was a tough blow as many stores had to close during lockdown.
Since then energy costs have risen and more shoppers than ever are choosing to order online rather than head into stores.
This has left some remaining retailers grappling with budgets and having no choice but to close stores to cut costs.
For the most part, supermarkets have braved the storm as they provide essential items like food and drink.
Asda is the only supermarket opening new branches, Lidl is looking for investors to build 12 supermarkets after opening two new stores last year.
But other retailers have not been so lucky The Body Shop is currently going through administration and announced plans to close half of its 198 stores with seven already closed.
Boots revealed it would be closing 300 stores over the next year as part of plans to evolve its brand.
WHSmith told The Sun it has no plans to open anymore more high street stores as it wants to focus on the travel side of its business.
Major banks have also announced multiple branch closures.
Barclays is to start pulling the shutters down on 14 sites in England, three in Wales and three in Scotland as soon as April.
Even charity shops are struggling Oxfam confirmed it would close eight of its UK stores last year.
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Retailers closing stores in 2024
RETAILERS have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis.
High energy costs and a move to shopping online are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going.
Here's a list of all the big-name brands closing stores this year:
- Argos - The brand announced plans to close 100 standalone UK branches last year as it looks to move away from the high street and focus on expanding its presence in supermarkets.
- B&Q - The chain has over 300 shops across the UK, so chances are you have one near you, but some stores have closed in recent months.
- Boots - The health and beauty chain announced that it would be closing 300 stores last July. Closures are ongoing and this will see the retailer's estate reduced from 2,200 to 1,900 shops.
- Clintons - Clintons mulled plans to close 38 shops in a bid to avoid insolvency late last year. We've listed the stores affected.
- Costa Coffee - The caffeine giant has around 2,000 sites nationwide, so chances are you'll have one near you. The chain has shut the doors to dozens of its sites recently. We've revealed which stores are due to close this year.
- Iceland - The supermarket has more than 900 stores but closed nearly two dozen sites in 2023, and more selected shops are due to shut.
- Lidl - The supermarket, which has 950 stores, is changing up shop locations, which has meant that some stores have to close. But the retailer is also looking to open 12 new supermarkets.
- M&S - M&S, which runs 405 stores across the country, has been closing a string of branches across the country in a blow for shoppers. It's not all bad news, though, because the chain also has big plans to open dozens of new shops as well.
- Trespass - The firm announced in July last year that it was closing six branches, but more are on the way.
- WHSmith - The retail giant, which runs over 1,100 stores, has shuttered eight stores since March 2023, but more are coming.
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