Essex's former Debenhams stores find new uses or stay empty

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 28 Oct, 12:30 · Archive

Since Debenhams closed in 2021, its Essex stores have had mixed futures: some reopened as new businesses, others remain vacant.

Since Debenhams closed in 2021, Essex's former department store locations have experienced markedly different outcomes. Some have been successfully redeveloped, whilst others continue to sit vacant.

Bbasildon's former Debenhams at Eastgate Shopping Centre is undergoing significant redevelopment. The ground floor is being converted into a state-of-the-art health centre expected to open this autumn. The facility will offer outpatient, diagnostic and theatre services, designed to support both NHS and private healthcare delivery. The centre aims to ease pressure on the NHS by expanding local capacity whilst providing new opportunities for clinicians and patients to access high-quality care. The top floor has already been brought back into use with the launch of FunParx, an indoor adventure park, which opened in December.

Chelmsford's former store on High Street has been successfully transformed into The Range's southern flagship store. The multi-million-pound conversion was completed in December 2023, creating one of the largest homeware outlets in southern England. The store features a Range Kitchens showroom, Cafe 89, and a year-round Christmas department. The project created hundreds of retail jobs and injected new life into the city centre.

Lakeside's former Debenhams has also been successfully repurposed, though details of its new use were not provided in the available reports.

In contrast, the Southend and Colchester locations remain empty, presenting an ongoing challenge for those town centres.

How it is being reported

• The former Debenhams stores transformed in Essex – and two still standing emptyEssex’s former Debenhams stores have mixed futures: Basildon gets a health centre, while Chelmsford and Lakeside thrive; Southend and Colchester remain empty.Brentwood Guardian · 28 Oct, 12:00
• The former Debenhams stores transformed in Essex – and two still standing emptyEssex’s former Debenhams stores have mixed futures: Basildon gets a health centre, while Chelmsford and Lakeside thrive; Southend and Colchester remain empty.Colchester Gazette · 28 Oct, 12:00
• The former Debenhams stores transformed in Essex – and two still standing emptyEssex’s former Debenhams stores have mixed futures: Basildon gets a health centre, while Chelmsford and Lakeside thrive; Southend and Colchester remain empty.Echo (Basildon) · 28 Oct, 12:00

In this story: Debenhams · Basildon · Chelmsford · Southend · Colchester · Lakeside · The Range · FunParx

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log