Next will close a flagship store in the Metrocentre less than two years after it opened to make way for a new department store.

The Next Home and Beauty shop in the former Gateshead Debenhams store will close later this year.

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The store only opened in October 2020 on the ground floor of the former Debenhams site, after the well-known department store closed earlier that year.

Now the retailer will vacate the store in the Metrocentre’s Red Mall, to make room for a new Sports Direct and Flannels.

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Clothing giant Next will move its home and beauty offering into its other store in the shopping destination’s green mall.

The Northern Echo: Picture:NEXTPicture:NEXT

It is not currently clear whether there will be any job losses due to the move.

The Northern Echo has approached Next for a statement.

The news follows the recent refurbishment of Town Square and the opening of Harrod’s H beauty in the former House of Fraser store, which may have taken trade from the beauty-based Next.

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Next also runs a seperate Next Home store on the Metrocentre retail park.

Graeme Jones, director at Sovereign Centros, said: “These lettings will create a new destination point for the centre’s Red Mall. The store sits on one of the main entrances to the centre and therefore important from a visual presentation perspective.

“The transaction completes a major element of our business plan leasing up surplus former department store space.

“Retailer interest in the Centre is strong. We are not only attracting new premium brands, but existing retailers are upsizing into new flagship stores. Both JD and H&M upsized earlier this year and are trading really well.”

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