TWELVE more Homebase stores have been rescued by the owner of The Range.
The DIY and chain entered into administration in November but was partially rescued by billionaire Chris Dawson, owner of CDS Superstores, the parent company of and .
The intervention aimed to preserve up to 70 stores, safeguard 1,600 and retain the brand.
So far 33 new format superstores have opened across the UK and Republic of since January.
The Range's owner has now announced the acquisition of 12 additional sites, which will open in April and May.
Homebase stores in Sittingbourne, Kent; Frome, Somerset and Newmarket, West Suffolk, are set to reopen under The Range banner today.
Stores in Portlaoise, County Laois; Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire and Sevenoaks, , will reopen under The Range banner next week.
The full list of locations and the dates they will reopen are:
- Sittingbourne – opening April 11
- Frome – opening April 11
- Newmarket – opening April 11
- Portlaoise – opening April 18
- Bishop’s Stortford – opening April 18
- Sevenoaks – opening April 18
- Haverfordwest – opening April 25
- Drakehouse Park, Sheffield – opening April 25
- Rayleigh Weir – opening April 25
- Dublin Nutgrove – opening April 25
- Market Harborough – opening May 2
- Clitheroe – opening May 16
Once these additional stores reopen, the total number of former Homebase locations confirmed as acquired by The Range will rise to more than 40.
Which stores have already reopened?
The Range has opened 33 new format superstores across the UK and 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
These stores sell a mixture of The Range and Homebase and homeware products.
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 Sligo, Drogheda and Bangor stores.
Selected stores also have Kitchens by Homebase departments, where customers can shop a range of kitchen designs and accessories.
Alex Simpkin, CEO of CDS Superstores, said: “The expansion marks a significant milestone in our journey and allows us to offer an even more exciting shopping experience to our customers, with a wider selection of home improvement, gardening and kitchen products available under one roof at convenient locations across the UK and Republic of Ireland.
“We continue to look forward to welcoming shoppers into our stores and providing them with everything they need for their and gardens.”;
Which other retailers have purchased Homebase stores?
A handful of other retailers have stepped in to purchase some 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 that were put up for sale.
has also acquired five more stores, including a former Homebase location that closed before the chain entered administration.
Meanwhile, B&M has confirmed that it has acquired the lease for Homebase’s former site at Tweedmouth Retail Park in Berwick.
What is happening to the stores bought by CDS?
CDS Superstores previously 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 re-purposing and opening some of the former Homebase stores under The Range brand.
CDS Superstores has announced its ambition to open three new stores a week over the coming months.
CDS said the move to take on “up to 70”; Homebase sites would see 1,600 staff keep their jobs.
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