Latest news with #RopemakerProperties
BBC News
01-08-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Former Taunton Debenhams building goes up for sale
The former Debenhams building in Taunton has been put up for sale, four years after the shop Properties, the owner of the building, has listed the shop for £1.75 million.A spokesperson for the company said: "We are confident of finding a suitable buyer for this prominent and high-profile building. "We want to see something positive happening here as soon as possible, and we hope to find a buyer with the expertise to secure the future of the site." Ropemaker Properties had previously applied to demolish the building and build 92 flats in its place, but those plans were scrapped in staff member Margaret Harris, who worked there for more than 37 years, said: "The department store brought people into town because it sold everything."It needs to be a department store again."Taunton and Wellington MP Gideon Amos, who had been campaigning for the store to reopen, told BBC Somerset the building "has been empty for far too long."It's a really positive opportunity that it's on the market, it's important it gets brought back into use."It would be great if the building could be kept. It is a landmark in the town centre," he said. The 7,815 sq m (84,127 sq ft) building sits over five floors in a prominent location in Taunton's town Maynard, partner at Alder King, who are managing the sale, said: "Although the commercial property market remains challenging, this building's enviable town centre location combined with Taunton's ambitious regeneration plans, means we are confident of finding a suitable buyer for this high-profile site."
The Sun
10-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Major DIY retailer suddenly shuts ‘excellent' branch after slew of closures in huge blow to shoppers
A MAJOR DIY retailer has suddenly closed one of its branches in a huge blow to shoppers. The 'excellent' store had to unexpectedly shut up shop after its landlord repossessed the property. 1 Hobbycraft in Strood Retail Park, Kent, has closed suddenly in what has been dubbed a temporary move. Reacting to the news on Facebook, one user said: "I hope it can be resolved quickly and re-opened soon for the local customers and staff who are all lovely there." Another customer customer wrote: "So pleased we went last night! "What a shame, I hope they get the issues resolved quickly." A third wrote: "Hope they get it sorted as I use it quite a bit and the staff are excellent." Hobbycraft has confirmed the situation was "unexpected" and that they are working with the landlord to reopen the store as soon as possible. To prevent access, the site has also been secured with landlords allowed to do this when their tenant breaches the terms of the lease. The store opened in 2021 and it's closure is a huge blow to shoppers. The closure comes a month after it was confirmed that nine "loss making" stores were set to be scrapped, including one in Canterbury. The change in circumstances is expected cause 126 jobs to be axed while negotiations take place over rent reductions with the landlords of 18 other stores. Signage was put up around the store provided notice that property owner Ropemaker Properties Ltd would retake possession of the unit. Hobbycraft apologised to customers for the inconvenience caused by the closure, with customers advised to visit the nearest alternative branch in Maidstone. Seven shops in Kent remain including Orpington, Canterbury, Crayford, Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells, and Ashfordand Thanet. The closure of this store in Kent comes with news last month that Hobbycraft would permanently close at least nine of its stores across the UK. Owner of Hobbycraft and private equity firm Modella Capital, announced they would be implementing closures as part of a sweeping restructure.
