Department store is sold
Agent reveals new owners plan ‘mixeduse’ of commercial and residential for the old House of Fraser department store.
The former House of Fraser site has been sold, it has been confirmed, but mystery surrounds the iconic building’s new owners.
This week, the landlord of the West Street building, Savills Investment, has confirmed the site was sold in December 2019.
It is not known who the new owners are, but in a recent article in the Church Times, it was suggested Chinese investors had shown interest in the listed building.
Savills agent, Adam Bullas said: “They are looking at the site in terms of what it can be repurposed for.
“It’s fair to say its days as a department store were well and truly numbered and I know the council are keen to see it rejuvenated and repurposed, bearing in mind it is listed and opposite the cathedral.
“My client has got to a stage where they have engaged with the local authority and that is where they are at.”
Mr Bullas suggested the new owners would be looking at a mixed-use for the building, most likely residential and commercial.
He added: “I know the council are keen to see an active frontage.”
Mayor of Chichester, Richard Plowman said: “I understand that there is a pre-application being put forward for the House of Fraser site but there are no details on that.
“One of the good things is that it is a listed building in a conservation area so in terms of what they can do with the building, it will be quite restrictive.
“The tragedy of course is losing the department store in the first place and that was a great shame.
“We will have to wait and see what comes forward and whether it is acceptable or not.”
The popular department store shuts its doors for the last time on January 27, 2019, after the company went into administration and was subsequently bought by Sports Direct which made the decision to close the site.