'Talks ongoing' over future of Darlington House of Fraser

The shutters were pulled down on more than 100 years of history when House of Fraser closed its doors for the final time on March 8 this year.

Stock was cleared, shelves were emptied, and staff sent home, leaving shoppers devastated and the future of the High Row site uncertain. 

It has been 184 days since the iconic store last welcomed people through its doors, and while questions still remain over what may become of it, talks are ongoing behind closed doors. 

John Taylor, director of Parker Barras and agent of the owner, told The Northern Echo that there is “quite a lot of interest” and that the owner remains in ongoing discussions. 

Customers at the store (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

He said: “We are in ongoing discussions with several interested parties and hope to make an exciting announcement/announcements in the next few months.

“We are well down the line with a number of interested parties.

"The property is still up for sale - we are actively pursuing enquiries and are still open for discussions.” 

Darlington Borough Council said discussions remain commercially sensitive but that it remains “committed to supporting efforts to bring the building back into use”. 

The Binns building, which was bought by a new owner in October 2024, was put on the market in February as an” incredible investment opportunity in an iconic building”.

It was due to go under the hammer in March with a guide price of more than £700,000 but, just hours before the sale, was mysteriously withdrawn due to “various interested parties”. 

(Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

Signs have since been put up to cover the glass windows of the shop and one of the Binns signs, opposite Darlington Market, has been taken down during this time. 

The building remains on the market for an undisclosed fee. 

While its future remains uncertain, plans have already been approved to split the site into six individual shops, should the new owner or tenants wish to carry this out. 

This was approved last November in a bid to “keep options open” for the future. 

There are also indicative drawings for the upper floors to be transformed into 73 apartments with a gym and remote working area or office space.

House of Fraser was the final department store in Darlington when it closed earlier this year, managing to outlast the likes of the Covid pandemic and cost of living crisis.

End of an era (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The brand, which still has a presence in town through its Sports Direct and Flannels stores, repeatedly refused to comment on the reason behind the closure. 

Binns first arrived in the town in 1922 and was taken over by House of Fraser in 1953.

It was initially earmarked for closure in 2018 but was saved when Sports Direct tycoon Mike Ashley bought the chain out of administration for £90m.

In 2019, the building was put up for sale, but House of Fraser remained. It hit the market again in summer 2024 - but this time, a closure announcement followed shortly after.

It was saved once by the building's new owners in October 2024 and a one year deal was signed in March 2025, but when this came to an end, so did the store's chapter in town. 

A council spokesperson said: "We know many people are interested in the future of the former Binns building.

“While the building remains in private ownership, discussions with interested parties are ongoing. 

“These conversations are commercially sensitive, so there is little we can say publicly at this stage, but we remain committed to working with partners and potential investors to support efforts to bring the building back into use and contribute to the town centre's continued regeneration."