150 jobs saved as Telford's House of Fraser to remain open

It has become only the second of 31 stores previously earmarked for closure to be saved.

The town centre shop will remain open following negotiations between its landlord and new owner Sports Direct.

Now the waiting begins for 83 staff working at House of Fraser in Shrewsbury and 279 at Beatties in Wolverhampton.

Both were earmarked for closure but a final decision is expected within days.

Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley says he wants to keep as many stores open as possible.

House of Fraser was bought by his Sports Direct for £90 million earlier this month.

Earlier this week it was announced the flagship store on Oxford Street in central London had also been saved from closure.

The Telford deal is only the second covering a House of Fraser store since the takeover.

Mr Ashley's plan is to keep 80 per cent of the 59 stores across the UK open.

A spokesman said they were working through the list on "a store-by-store basis".

Fashion quarter

James Keany, head of national agency at CBRE, who acted on the negotiations, said the Telford store would benefit from being part of the town's new 80,000 sq ft fashion quarter redevelopment, which is due for completion next spring.

“This is another example of what can be achieved when landlords work with us to ensure we deliver on the House of Fraser rescue plan," he added.

Around £55 million is being spent developing Telford Shopping Centre.

Re-organisation of the complex will see eight existing units extended and seven new units created.

The ambition shown by the centre helped persuade Mike Ashley that House of Fraser had a future.

Centre bosses say High Street names including Next, New Look, H&M and River Island have already committed to taking on bigger stores, which reflects the confidence large fashion retailers have in the borough.

Michael Thomas, senior asset and development manager for developer Sovereign Centros, said: “The new owners vision for House of Fraser provides a perfect platform for the launch of Telford centre’s fashion quarter in spring 2019 and we will be working closely with House of Fraser over the next 12 months to ensure that vision is delivered.”