Uncertainty over future of former Binns store in Darlington

The former Binns store, on High Row, has been a Darlington retail landmark since the firm first opened in August 1922. 

But after over a century in the town, a question mark has been left looming over the chain’s future after the property was put up for sale. 

Commercial property advisor Cited has listed the building online with a price tag of £1m, describing it as a “significant town centre repositioning opportunity”.

It said the building could be suited to “an array of alternative uses”.

The Binns store in Darlington (Picture courtesy of the Darlington Centre for Local Studies)

These include a new lease with House of Fraser or a potential new firm - or even the refurbishment of the site to form high-quality retail and leisure units on the lower floor and residential, office, or hotel use for the upper floors. 

It also highlights the potential for leisure opportunities, or repurposing the site into a community use to "capitalise on the advancing regeneration of Darlington town centre".

Darlington Council’s Chief Executive Ian Williams confirmed it was aware that the owner of the building had indicated it was for sale, and understood this was with the sitting tenant. 

House of Fraser currently operates from the property through a licence to occupy, which was signed in 2021 by SDI Propco 37 Limited. 

The license is determinable by both the landlord and licensee at any point - but this is subject to no less than three months notice. 

The sale features both the building itself and a separate storage building located on Mechanics Yard, which was formerly used as a bakery. It amounts to roughly 145,556 sq ft of space. 

This isn’t the first time the building occupied by House of Fraser has been put up for sale in recent years.

Back in 2018, Darlington Council secured the building’s future for 12 to 18 months in 2018, with a "use it or lose it" warning being issued to shoppers.

But about one year later, owners Colliers International marketed the building to potential investors. 

At the time, it was reported how the building was up for grabs as a "safety net", in case a new agreement with the council couldn’t be reached.

Ex-Darlington MP baroness Jenny Chapman branded the situation "deeply concerning" in 2019. 

But the Darlington store lived on and it continues to operate as House of Fraser - and the town's only remaining department store - today. 

It also remains the last shop under the House of Fraser name in the North East, following the closure of the Middlesbrough location on Linthorpe Road in June 2022. 

Mr Williams said: “We are aware that the owner of the building has indicated that the building is for sale and, we understand, with a sitting tenant.

"Darlington Town Centre remains an attractive well-rounded location with a diverse retail and leisure offer attracting many visitors who enjoy the experience on offer."

The D&S has contacted the Frasers Group for comment, but has not yet received a response.