Council confirms talks with Wilko over relocation

NUNEATON and Bedworth Borough Council is in talks with Wilko over its relocation in Nuneaton town centre.

The Town Hall has said the authority is in discussion with the national name about finding a new home.

Wilko has to move out of its current location in Church Street due to Warwickshire County Council’s £19m regeneration plans in the area.

With the news that Poundland is moving out of the borough councilowned building in Queens Road, there has been speculation about Wilkos moving in.

While the borough council would not say which sites it was looking at, it did confirm talks are ongoing with the firm, but no deal has been struck.

A Town Hall spokesperson said: “We are able to confirm we are still talking to them about possible locations in the town to which they might re-locate.”

Poundland has confirmed it will move out of 22 Queens Road at the end of the month.

Once the firm has moved, and merged into the existing store Poundland store in Market Place, it means the Queens Road building will then be empty. Work will then start on the empty space above, which is going to be transformed into office and business start-up accommodation.

As part of these £1m works, there needs to be a new entrance created so people can access the upper floor.

There will also be work to the former Poundland store as well.

Councillor Julie Jackson, Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council leader, explained: “Poundland have traded very successfully in Nuneaton town centre, and we hope they will continue to do so for many years to come from their other shop in Market Place.

“Their tenancy at the 22 Queens Road premises is shortly coming to an end, and we are ready to commence refurbishing andre-purposing the property.

“This will provide a new ground floor retail unit with a prominent frontage to Queens Road that would be attractive to a major high street retailer

“We are also working to convert the upper floors accessed form Ropewalk for use as flexible work space for small businesses and start ups. This is a very exciting step in our plans to transform Nuneaton town centre, with support from the Towns Fund.”