A FORMER Debenhams store is set to get a new lease of life as a department store.

Dunelm is bringing its new superstore format to the former Debenhams in Beverley’s Flemingate centre  in East Yorkshire.

The retailer has taken a 10-year lease on the two-storey former department store and will begin fitting out the building in the next couple of weeks. The new store is expected to open just before Christmas as the latest addition to Dunelm’s network of more than 170 outlets across the country.

The 41,000 sq ft store will also feature Dunelm’s own Pausa coffee shop.

The store will create around 40 jobs and will mean Flemingate is almost fully let, having bounced back strongly from the pandemic with a series of new openings and footfall running well ahead of pre-Covid levels.

Dominic Gibbons, managing director of Hull-based Wykeland, said: “We’re delighted to announce Dunelm, one of the country’s leading retailers, is bringing its exciting new superstore format to Flemingate and that the former Debenhams store will once again be fully occupied.

“The closure of Debenhams created a highly-desirable retail opportunity in a prime location within a vibrant destination and we were always confident of attracting a high-quality new operator. We’ve now delivered on that confidence.

“Dunelm’s commitment reflects the strength of Flemingate and also the appeal of Beverley as a prosperous and growing retail and leisure marketplace.”

Steve Barton, Dunelm director of property, said: “This is a great opportunity for Dunelm to bring our latest store offering to customers in Beverley. Our new Flemingate store will have everything needed to help savvy customers refresh and revamp their homes, from simple haberdashery items to stylish and highly affordable furniture.”

Established more than 40 years ago, Dunelm employs 10,000 people across the UK and is growing strongly as post-pandemic trends see consumers focus more than ever on homewares and home improvements.

The Debenhams store at Flemingate shut in May this year as part of a national closure programme after the department store group went into administration. Online retailer Boohoo acquired the Debenhams brand but decided not to retain its stores across the UK.