Next in Leamington town centre is set to close

Major highstreet retailer Next will close its store in the Parade in Leamington with the premises set to be refurbished and used for a combination of purposes.
NextNext
Next

Hampshire Pension Fund C/O Cbre Global Investors has made an application to Warwick District Council for planning permission and listed building consent at numbers 44/46 The Parade for change of use of part of the ground and first floor from Class A1 - retail - use to flexible Class A1/A3 use - retail or a restaurant or cafe - and change of use of part of the ground and first floor and all of the second and third floors to residential use.

Meanwhile Next, which has a larger store at the Leamington Shopping Park on the outskirts of the town, has confirmed it will be closing the branch in the Parade.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In a brief statement a spokeswoman for company said: “I can confirm that this store will be closing; no permanent jobs will be lost due to this as all staff are being offered roles at nearby stores.”

The branch has been a fixture of Leamington’s town centre retail scene for several years with next being noted for its big Boxing day sales which start in the early hours of the morning with customers queuing before the doors open to grab bargains.

Its previous neighbour Burton Menswear and Dorothy Perkins. formerly located at 48/50 The Parade, have recently made way for a bank.

In regard to the building itself, which is on the junction on The Parade and Warwick Street, a heritage statement has been published on behalf of the applicant by Dr Gillian Scott of Archeological Research Services Ltd.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She has said: “Numbers 44/46 Parade and 63 and 64 Warwick Street are all Grade II Listed Buildings which confirm that they are of ‘special interest’ as defined by Historic England, although Grade II Listing is the lowest grade of national designation.

“It should be noted that Number 62 Warwick Street was listed due to its group value with the other buildings as it is part of the historic street pattern and therefore contributes to the Royal Leamington Spa Conservation Area.

“The building does not contain any internal features of note and its external appearance is largely uninspiring.”

Related topics: