Closure of B&Q Stratford-upon-Avon on hold

The B&Q store in Stratford-upon-Avon, looks likely to remain open, after the company signed a new, three year extension to the current lease.

The branch, located at the Maybird shopping centre just outside the centre of the town, looked likely to close last September after Stratford District Council approved a planning application to demolish the building and build three new retail units in its place.

Since then, the 49 employees have been uncertain whether they would have a job and  although questions over the long term future of the store remain, at least the extension provides some certainty until 2020. Representatives of the Council had said that they were willing to work with B&Q to find an alternative home for the only large DIY store in the town.

The B&Q store manager Lynford Johnson said: “Our B&Q Stratford-upon-Avon store has become a part of the town’s community as well as its landscape. We are delighted to have another three years at the Maybird Centre, as it gives us time to find a suitable site in Stratford to relocate to a new store.

“We are looking forward to our future in Stratford and plan to invest and expand the operation we have here. We want to provide more jobs to the area and to enhance the range of home improvement products and service solutions we offer our customers.”

Source: Insight DIY team

Interested in following all B&Q store openings and closures? Sign up for our weekly Insight DIY newsletter here.