Potential buyers have shown interest in Darlington’s Binns store, The Northern Echo can reveal a day after its closure was announced.

House of Fraser, which operates from the former Binns store, will close its doors at the end of November, with the landlord having decided to sell up.

The retail chain - which has been in Darlington since August 1922 - thanked staff for their "hard work and dedication" when announcing the news on Thursday (September 19).

House of Fraser leases the building from Arab owners, it is understood, who put the building for sale in July with a £1m price tag casting doubt over the store’s future.

The Echo can reveal potential buyers have shown interest in the site, but no deal has been agreed yet.

'Closing Down' signs went up on Thursday (September 19).'Closing Down' signs went up on Thursday (September 19). (Image: PAUL NORRIS)

Darlington Council Chief Executive Ian Williams said: “I understand there has been interest but that hasn’t crystalised into anything formal yet.

“We have been in touch with the owners for the last few years and we have known for a little while that they have been trying to market the building and have identified a range of different options that might be available to potential purchasers.

“The council is absolutely committed to working with anyone who purchases that building to bring about its next use.

“We just want it to be playing a productive role in the town centre, not sitting empty.”

Darlington Council Chief Executive Ian Williams (left).Darlington Council Chief Executive Ian Williams , leftMr Williams, who recently announced plans to retire, said the council understands the building could be used for a mix of new purposes as town centres transition from a mainly retail offering.

“It isn’t listed, but it is an attractive building and it is in a prominent place on High Row so it would be my ambition to retain the look of the building but to have new uses inside – I don’t think you should narrow the options,” the Chief Executive continued.

“The ground floor lends itself to some sort of leisure or retail activity. On other floors we could see a mix of different changes of use – offices, residential, all sorts of options that present themselves.

“You can no longer rely on town centres being a retail experience.

“This is a disappointment, there’s no doubt about it.

The store has been part of High Row for more than a century.The store has been part of High Row for more than a century. (Image: PAUL NORRIS)

“But there are lots of good things happening. It’s about events, animation, independents, leisure, café culture – all of those give people a reason to come to the town centre.”

He added that while the council had not had conversations with House of Fraser, the Mike Ashley-owned department store’s decision to close is a “reflection of where town centre retail is more generally”.

A spokesperson for parent company Frasers said on Thursday: “It is with regret that we announce House of Fraser Darlington will be closing in December 2024, due to the landlord's decision to terminate the lease as they require the unit back before Christmas.”

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It has since been confirmed the closure will happen at the end of November.

They continued: “Our customers can continue to shop the world’s most aspirational brands at Frasers.com, or access more brands from the Group’s ecosystem at Sports Direct Darlington and FLANNELS Darlington at the Cornmill Shopping Centre.

"We would like to take this opportunity to thank our staff for their hard work and dedication. Where possible, we are committed to finding new roles within the Group for staff.”