Buttermarket may be set for New Look
MOVES to bring new retailers into the former home of C&A have taken a step forward with work having begun to split and refit the unit ready to house two stores.
By Jo Macdonald
MOVES to bring new retailers into the former home of C&A have taken a step forward with work having begun to split and refit the unit ready to house two stores.
The two level shop in Ipswich's Buttermarket Shopping Centre has been empty since C&A closed all its UK stores a year ago but negotiations are in process that could soon see its doors reopen again.
Redevco, the property arm of C&A, which still owns the lease to the large premises, are believed to have found a company wishing to take one of the two new units but rumours that fashion retailer New Look could be moving into the lower level are unconfirmed.
No application has yet been made to the Buttermarket's owners, Decembre Properties, for a change of use although shop fitters are currently working at the store.
Colin Roberts, manager of the shopping centre, said: "It is incumbent upon Redevco and us to find someone to fill the store.
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"I believe they have found a company which is very interested in the store and they have people splitting the unit up to fit two stores.
"No application has been made to us although I'm sure they know full well we're not going to argue.
In May last year before the Buttermarket was sold by Legal and General, letting agents, London-based Kitchen La Frenais Morgan, said it hoped to have a taker for the lower level unit and that it could be a national multiple fashion retailer.
While current rumours that New Look may be the retailer showing interest no one at the company was available to confirm whether its Ipswich store would be moving into the former home of C&A from its current Tavern Street unit.
However, Mr Roberts said: "We'd be delighted to see them here."
The Buttermarket opened in late 1992 after two years of construction. C&A was the second largest unit in the shopping centre until it closed early last year.
