House of Fraser to depart in big revamp
A MAJOR shopping centre will be transformed as part of a multi-million pound development.
Developers hope proposals to turn the space occupied by the House of Fraser store into nine smaller units at the Highcross Centre will get the green light.
Civic chiefs in Leicester will deliberate over plans by property giant Hammerson to divide the department store into smaller units.
These could become shops, restaurants, cafes or drinking establishments.
Some of the new outlets will open onto High Street, increasing the number of premises in the busy shopping street.
Others will open onto the “under-utilised” Shires Lane.
Highcross’s High Street and Shires Lane facades will undergo improvements, and the Shires Lane service yard will be removed to create extra retail space.
Extra parking space will also be provided as part of the redevelopment.
The announcement of the plans confirms that House of Fraser, trading as Rackhams in Highcross, is likely to depart the shopping centre.
The store’s group has agreed to vacate its unit early to enable the redevelopment to take place.
A spokeswoman for the chain said: “House of Fraser can confirm that we will relinquish the lease of our Leicester store early, in the event that Hammerson is able to secure a different usage of the store space.
“While we have not yet been served notice by our landlord, this means that House of Fraser Leicester will eventually close.
“Our staff have been consulted and we will inform our customers of the store closure date in due course.”
It is understood that once House of Fraser has been served notice by Hammerson, it will have 100 days to vacate the store.
City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby welcomed Hammerson’s plans for the shopping centre.
He said: “Obviously it’s been good having House of Fraser there, but they haven’t found it an easy building to trade in.
“And Hammerson has put in some very exciting proposals.
“It is very exciting news, though of course we are sorry to lose House of Fraser.”
He welcomed the plan to have the new units facing out onto High Street and Shires Lane.
The city mayor said: “It is great to see Hammerson continue to invest in Highcross and in Leicester, and to open the centre out into the city reflects the changes that have happened that make it a very good retail environment.
“We are very, very pleased with what they are proposing.
“It will breathe new life into the High Street and continue the momentum of regeneration.”
House of Fraser is spread over three floors, totalling just over 100,000 sq ft.
The store is thought to have 253 staff, though according to the planning application submitted to the city council, the newly created units will eventually employ 326 people.
International homewares retailer Zara Home is one of a number of retailers said to be eyeing up new units.
Zara Home has around 13 stores in the UK, mostly located within the M25.
A Leicester store would be its first in the East Midlands.
Peter Cooper, director of UK shopping centres at Hammerson, said: “The planning application we have submitted to Leicester City Council envisages a major reconfiguration of the former House of Fraser unit to enable the introduction of new and exciting brands to Highcross.
“The plans will provide the opportunity to upsize existing retailers to flagship standard stores and introduce new concepts to the city.
“Bringing previously under-utilised areas of the scheme into active retail use will enable us to complete the streetscape at the entrance to St Peter’s Square and improve the integration between the High Street and the scheme.
“It will underpin Leicester as a top retail destination in the UK.”