Major update on Homebase closures as dates for six locations re-opening within The Range stores next month confirmed

SIX Homebase stores will reopen as branches of The Range in days as part of a rescue deal.

The DIY and homeware chain entered into administration in November but was partially rescued by billionaire Chris Dwason, owner of CDS Superstores, the parent company of The Range and Wilko.

AlamySix former Homebase branches are set to reopen as The Range in May[/caption]

The intervention aimed to preserve up to 70 stores, safeguard 1,600 jobs and retain the Homebase brand.

So far 43 new format superstores have opened across the UK and Republic of Ireland since the beginning of the year.

These are The Range stores with Homebase departments, including Garden Centres by Homebase or Kitchens by Homebase.

The Range’s owner has now announced that six sites will open in May.

Homebase stores in Stamford, Market Harborough, Cookstown, Tiverton, Santry, Dublin, and Clitheroe will all reopen under The Range banner next month.

The full list of locations and the dates they will reopen are: 

Stamford – May 2 Market Harborough – May 2 Cookstown- May 9 Tiverton – May 9 Santry, Dublin – May 9 Clitheroe – May 16

Once these additional stores reopen, the total number of former Homebase locations confirmed to have been acquired by The Range will rise to 49.

Garden Centre by Homebase departments will be available in the following stores: Cookstown, Tiverton, Santry and Clitheroe.

The Range has opened dozens of new format superstores since January.

The full list of locations and their reopening dates are: 

Pollokshaws, Glasgow – opened January 17 Christchurch, Bournemouth – opened January 17 Kings Heath, Birmingham – opened January 17 Newton Abbot – opened January 24 Felixstowe – opened January 24 Blyth – opened January 24 Stroud – opened January 31 Putney Road, Leicester – opened January 31 Blandford Forum – opened January 31 Penge – opened February 7 Woking – opened February 7 Leighton Buzzard – opened February 7 Staines – opened February 14 Ashbourne – opened February 14 East Dereham – opened February 14 Huntingdon – opened February 21   Reigate – opened February 21 Bicester – opened February 21 Admiral Park, Eastbourne – opened February 28 Morecambe – opened February 28 Oxford – opened February 28 Bodmin – opened March 7 Loudwater – opened March 7 Selby – opened March 7 Craigleith Park, Edinburgh – opened March 21 Horsham – opened March 21 Ruislip – opened March 21 Maidenhead – opened March 28 Harrogate – opened March 28 Sligo, ROI – opened April 4 Drogheda, ROI – opened April 4 Winchester – opened April 4 Balloo Park, Bangor, NI – opened April 4 Sittingbourne – opened April 11 Frome – opened April 11 Newmarket – opened April 11 Portlaoise – opened April 18 Bishop’s Stortford – opened April 18 Sevenoaks – opened April 18 Haverfordwest – opened April 25 Drakehouse Park, Sheffield – opened April 25 Rayleigh Weir – opened April 25 Dublin Nutgrove – opened April 25

Several of the new stores also include Garden Centres by Homebase, which sell a range of house and garden plants.

They are available in the Bangor, Sligo and Drogheda stores.

Selected stores also have Kitchens by Homebase departments, where customers can shop a range of kitchen designs and accessories.

Which other retailers have purchased Homebase stores?

A handful of other retailers have stepped in to buy some of the Homebase stores that were not included in the chain’s rescue deal.

Among them is B&Q, which agreed to buy eight of the chain’s stores after they were put up for sale.

Wickes also bought five stores, including a former Homebase that closed before the chain entered administration.

Meanwhile, B&M has confirmed it has acquired the lease for Homebase’s former site at Tweedmouth Retail Park in Berwick.

What will happen to the stores bought by CDS?

CDS superstores said it would buy up to 70 Homebase shops.

It has also taken over the Homebase brand and has relaunched its website, with thousands of products up for sale.

It is in the process of rebranding and opening some of the former Homebase shops under The Range brand.

CDS Superstores has said it plans to open three new stores a week for the next few months.

It has previously said the move to take on up to 70 Homebase sites would see 1,600 staff retain their jobs.

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