‘Store could be hotel or apartments’
HOWELLS in Cardiff could be developed into a hotel, it has been revealed. A lease for the historic House of Fraser store has been advertised online offering a scheme with “potential” for hotel and apartment use.
Last month the landlord of the Grade II-listed building said she is working with the department store chain’s new owner, Mike Ashley, to keep House of Fraser open on the site.
But it seems any reprieve for the store may prove to be temporary, with the landlord now looking for an alternative long-term future for the site.
The 1.7-acre space is now being advertised through real estate agency Saxbury – offering the potential for more than 200 rooms.
And “all interested hospitality companies” are being encouraged to come forward with their suggestions for taking over the site.
The advert states: “Saxbury is advising on a historic 1.7 acre, hospitality led mixed-use scheme with potential for hotel and apart-hotel (C1) use class.
“Currently the House of Fraser department store, the site has been replanned to accommodate either a hotel (214 units), an apart-hotel (134 units) or a boutique hotel (64 units).”
Under the lease the building could also be developed for “mixed uses” including retail, offices, leisure and residential. The start date for the lease is not included.
Yesterday, a spokeswoman for Azeemeh Zaheer, CEO of Naissance Capital Real Estate and landlord for Howells, declined to comment on the lease of the building.
Last month Ms Zaheer confirmed she was working with Mr Ashley to keep the store open.
In a statement, she said: “I am pleased to confirm that we are working with Mike Ashley’s team to keep the Cardiff House of Fraser store open and trading.
“We are working together to keep one of Wales’ best-known department stores open and, most importantly, saving hundreds of jobs.
“There is great potential in our freehold, 1.7-acre, iconic site.
“The iconic status our store has had in the city for 15 decades is noteworthy and we are grateful to the store’s loyal customers.
“As the changing nature of retail demands a new technology and infrastructure, we have no illusions of the road ahead but are willing to put in the hard work to make it a success story.”
In September the new House of Fraser owner announced the closure of stores in Edinburgh, Hull and Swindon, blaming the move on “greedy” landlords.
Discussions with the landlords of remaining branches are under way.
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“If you do not receive a personal response within 48 hours we have been unable to help you at this time but thank you for contacting us.”