Map reveals 13 Homebase branches shutting for good in January as huge closing down sales launched

HOMEBASE is set to close 13 stores this month it can be revealed.

The locations, which include branches in Romford, Broadstairs and Coventry, are due to close in January.

Some branches have already launched closing down sales in stores.

Employees at the 13 branches have been notified about the closures.

When the DIY chain entered administration in November it had 133 stores in the UK.

The brand was immediately sold to The Range and Wilko owner CDS, securing up to 1,600 jobs and the future of up to 70 branches, with 50 locations already agreed.

Homebase said all stores would remain open and continue to trade as usual, then 74 sites were put up for sale with a deadline of November 29 set for bids.

Sainsbury's is expected to buy three more stores, after securing 10 earlier in 2024, but this has not been confirmed.

Earlier this month, B&Q agreed to buy five branches, leaving an estimated 58 stores which could be sold or closed.

This means the future of 49 stores is still being decided.

Homebase had 3,600 employees at the time of administration.

Employees are being consulted and supported as negotiations continue.

Here's the full list of confirmed Homebase stores shutting their doors in January:

Bradford

Broadstairs

Cheltenham

Colchester Stanway

Coventry

Derby Chaddesden

Gloucester

Hull Hessle

London Streatham Vale

Oban

Oldbury

Romford

Wolverhampton

The closure dates haven't been confirmed yet.

CDS has announced nine locations which will be turned into new-format The Range stores.

Some shops will include Homebase garden centres and Dulux paint mixing machines and colour walls inside.

CDS said it is hoping to open three of the hybrid stores each week, up to a total of 70.

It plans to open at least 50 shops in the next four months.

Alex Simpkin, chief executive of CDS Superstores, owner of The Range, said at the time: "We've stepped in following the sad demise of the much-loved Homebase brand, which has had a long and previously successful history of helping UK households with their DIY projects and gardening needs, for over 45 years."

Yesterday, the first new format store opened in Bournemouth.

It comes as closing down sales have launched at a number of Homebase locations.

Pictures posted on social media show notices outside the branch at Westwood Cross in Broadstairs advertising "all stock reduced, everything must go".

In response, locals shared their sadness as the closing down sale kicked off with items going for between 10% to 50% off.

Two others in Wales recently launched closing down sales.

Three more Homebase sites in Derry, Inverurie, and Omagh have also launched closing down sales along with a branch in Glenrothes near Fife.

Homebase previously confirmed that six sites would close before the end of 2024, including Sutton Coldfield, Bromsgrove, Cromer, Fareham, Newark and Rugby.

Homeware and DIY chains struggle

The news today follows a tricky time for home improvement chains, both large and small.

It comes as shoppers have been cutting back on spending following the pandemic.

Plus, the recent turmoil in the housing market has meant that homeowners aren't as focused on DIY projects as they once were.

In the spring, Kingfisher, which owns B&Q and Screwfix, revealed that annual profits had slumped by more than a quarter.

The company reported a 25.1% drop in underlying pre-tax profits to £568million for the year to January 31, 2024.

Window and door specialist Everest called in administrators in April, leaving customers in the dark about their orders.

Last year, the group had previously cautioned profits would slip after a 36% drop in pre-tax profits from £1billion to £611million in the 12 months to January 2023.

Rival Wickes also reported a 31% fall in profits to £52million on flat revenues of £1.55billion for 2023.

Windows and doors company Safestyle collapsed into administration in October last year.

The company has a manufacturing site in Wombwell, near Barnsley and 42 sales branches and depots across the country.

Flooring retailer Tapi recently struck a multimillion-pound rescue deal to save the Carpetright brand and dozens of stores last month.

Tapi purchased 54 of the chain's stores and two warehouses in a pre-pack administration deal that saved 300 jobs.

However, the deal did not include 200 other stores which all closed their doors.

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