Fears For Harborough’s Homebase Store

There are fears for the future of Market Harborough’s Homebase as the new owner of the firm will unveil plans to close about a quarter of its stores next week, threatening more than 1,000 jobs.

Sky News has learnt that Hilco Capital, which struck a deal to buy the DIY chain for a nominal sum in May, is expected to outline proposals for a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) that will pave the way for roughly 60 of Homebase’s 249 outlets to be axed.

Sources said the CVA – a controversial insolvency mechanism which has been deployed by retailers including Carpetright, Mothercare and New Look this year – would be launched by Alvarez & Marsal, the professional services firm, early next week.

The number of stores to be axed was still being finalised on Wednesday, with a range of 50 to 80 shops thought to include 18 which have already been closed in recent months.

If it is at the top end of that range, the closure programme will represent almost one third of Homebase’s estate.

The precise number of jobs that will be lost was also unclear, with analysts speculating that it was likely to be between 1,000 and 1,500, roughly 10% of Homebase’s 11,000-strong workforce.

The eventual figure could be higher, according to one insider.