Both Poundland and JD will be closing their existing stores in the Merseyway shopping centre, in line with their move into new premises on the site of the former BHS store.

It means that, once the new branches have opened, they will be the only existing Poundland and JD Sports stores respectively in the town centre; JD will close its two town centre stores, and likewise, Poundland will move from its Warren Street base.

Whilst Poundland is expected to open in early August, the opening of JD Sports has been pushed back by a few months, and is expected to open nearer the end of the year.

The two new high street stores will occupy two floors in the former BHS building.

JD Sports will occupy 14,000 sq ft, and Poundland will occupy 9,000 sq ft.

Retail property company Barker Proudlove helped facilitate the move.

Tom Prescott, the company's director, said: “Whilst numerous commentators are keen to push local tenants as the solution for town centre retailing, the reality is successful towns need a blend of both local and national brands to ensure the ongoing vibrancy and success of their retail provision.

“The retail market is all about being adaptable, and businesses like JD Sports have done this tremendously well recently, continually evolving to suit ever-changing consumer demands.

"Similarly, value-driven brands such as Poundland are in consistent demand from shoppers, enabling them to generate weeklong footfall for occupiers trading around them."

Work on the former BHS store as seen in summer 2023 (Image - Alasdair Perry)

A Merseyway spokesperson described the news as 'a massive milestone' in the shopping centre's improvement programme - a programme which has also seen the Merseyway Innovation Centre, and the development of Stockroom, the new library space.

Stockport Council purchased the BHS store in 2019 in order to invest in the building as part of its £1 billion regeneration plans for the town centre.

"The redevelopment of the former BHS department store is a key part of the Council's long term regeneration plans for Merseyway and the Town Centre", the council said in an announcement earlier this year.

James Air, head of group acquisitions at JD Sports, said: "Stockport deserves a fantastic JD store, and this prime regeneration development will deliver exactly that. We can't wait to make such a significant investment in the town to complement our future investments in Crown Point Denton and the Trafford Centre."

Ben Wall, director of property portfolio at Poundland, said: "We're delighted to be re-opening at Merseyway in the refurbished BHS unit.

"The new unit will allow us to bring the best we have to offer to the town centre. We appreciate the investment from the council in both the building and the wider public realm and we look forward to playing our part in the regeneration of Merseyway.

"We look forward to creating another store Stockport will be proud of."

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