THE home of the former Debenhams department store in Chester is now on the market – with an asking price of at least £4 million.

Property consultancy Allsop has put the Browns of Chester building, located on Eastgate Street, on the market, touting it as an "opportunity to acquire a historic landmark building within the heart of Chester with significant redevelopment potential".

Providing further details on the 'redevelopment potential', the firm said: "The property makes up part of the Chester Rows High Street Heritage Action Zone. Historic England are keen to fund initiatives that will help repurpose similar properties along the main retailing thoroughfares to ensure the High Street vitality.

"The purchaser has the option to explore the reconfiguration and redevelopment opportunities (subject to planning) including:

  • Reconfiguring the property to provide a mixed use offering incorporating leisure or hotel use
  • Reconfigure the retail offering by splitting into multiple units on the ground floor with alternative use on the uppers including office or leisure
  • Converting the upper parts to residential/student accommodation."

Offers on the 153,268 sq ft building, which includes elements which are Grade I and Grade II listed, are sought in excess of £4 million, plus VAT.

The firm adds the building, once home to Browns of Chester – described as the 'Harrods of the North' – contains many ornate features such as glass domed roofs and elaborate detailing.

The oldest part of the store is housed in the Grade I-listed Crypt Chambers which incorporates Georgian, Tudor and Gothic façades and was completed in 1858.

Debenhams shut as part of the retailer's nationwide high street store closure programme in 2021, with the Chester store open for just a few weeks after the January-April 2021 Covid lockdown to clear remaining stock. The Debenhams store shut for good in May 2021.

 

The former Browns of Chester department store.

The former Browns of Chester department store.