New lease of life for empty shop

A new furniture heavyweight has chosen to open one of its first stores in Preston.
Photo Neil Cross
Work has started on the big vacant former Tesco shop at the Capitol CentrePhoto Neil Cross
Work has started on the big vacant former Tesco shop at the Capitol Centre
Photo Neil Cross Work has started on the big vacant former Tesco shop at the Capitol Centre

Work has started transforming a vacant unit at the Capitol Centre, Walton-le-Dale into a Fabb Sofas store.

Unit 7 at the retail park has been empty since Tesco Homeplus closed its doors in June 2015, with the loss of 87 jobs.

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A spokesman for Royal London, which owns the Capitol Centre development, said: “The entire unit has been pre-let to Fabb Sofas which is a new furniture retailer established by Lord Kirkham, the former owner of DFS.

Photo Neil Cross
Work has started on the big vacant former Tesco shop at the Capitol CentrePhoto Neil Cross
Work has started on the big vacant former Tesco shop at the Capitol Centre
Photo Neil Cross Work has started on the big vacant former Tesco shop at the Capitol Centre

“The works will be completed in October and Fabb will open following their internal fit out.

“We are delighted to have Fabb Sofas coming to the retail park.

“Lord Kirkham has a first class reputation and having discussed the company with him in detail, we were pleased that he chose the Capitol Centre, Preston for one of his first stores.”

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In December, permission was granted for a range of internal and external alterations to the unit.

Photo Neil Cross
Work has started on the big vacant former Tesco shop at the Capitol CentrePhoto Neil Cross
Work has started on the big vacant former Tesco shop at the Capitol Centre
Photo Neil Cross Work has started on the big vacant former Tesco shop at the Capitol Centre

They included removal of the brickwork between each of the brickwork piers running along the main frontage facing the car park, to be replaces with full-height structural silicone glazing.

It also involved removing an area of of high-level glazing to the rear of the shop, the installation of a new main entance sign, and

re-configuration of the existing mezzanine floor.

New stainless steel bollards will also be installed infront of the new glazing to the customer car park.

Fabb Sofas were unavailable for comment on how many jobs will be created and when the shop will be officially opened.