Blackpool's much-anticipated Frasers department store is on track to open its doors later this year, following the approval of new signage. The old Debenhams signs, which were taken down after the store's closure, will be replaced by illuminated signs featuring the brand names of Frasers, Flannels, and Sports Direct.
Last November, Blackpool council announced a deal with the Fraser Group to take over the property in the Houndshill Shopping Centre. The new department store will offer a wide range of beauty, fashion, home, premium, contemporary accessories, and childrenswear from various brands. Alongside this, the site will also feature a Sports Direct store and a new branch of the luxury fashion store Flannels, after undergoing extensive refurbishment.
Town hall planners have granted advertisement consent for the signage of these new brands, which will be visible from the entrance at the corner of Albert Road and Coronation Street, opposite the Grade II listed Winter Gardens. The planners emphasized the need to preserve the heritage assets' significance but acknowledged that the area already has a commercial character. They believe that any potential issues with brightness can be addressed through imposed conditions.
Try MEN Premium for FREE by clicking here for no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features.
The approval for the signage has not caused any detrimental impact on the Town Centre Conservation Area or the character of the Winter Gardens. A planning report states: "It is not expected that the proposed illuminated advertisements would unreasonably affect the area's ambiance in terms of light disturbance."
The advertisements will be displayed on a purpose-built retail unit in similar positions to the previous ones.
While there is some damage to the copper cladding resulting from the installation and removal of the old 'Debenhams' signage, the agent responsible for the property has assured that the existing facade will be thoroughly cleaned and any damages will be repaired.
Since May 2021, when all three trading floors closed down, the former Debenhams store has remained vacant. Additionally, the Houndshill Centre, owned by the council, is gearing up for an extension's opening before Christmas. This extension will house a new Wilko store and the Backlot Cinema, bringing further excitement to the area.
- This article was crafted with the help of AI tools, which speeds up the MEN's editorial research. A Manchester Evening News editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to newsdesk@men-news.co.uk
- You may notice the above message on a small number of Manchester Evening News articles. We like to innovate and this is part of a trial to look at whether AI can help speed up the publishing process, We will always declare where this happens.
