House of Fraser in the Eden Shopping Centre has confirmed the closure of its High Wycombe store.

A sign has been placed on the front of the department store announcing the closure of the store in January 2023.

The Bucks Free Press understands a meeting was held in the morning on November 1 to let the workforce know about the closure.

One worker said they were told that the final weekend will be on January 18 and 19 and that all staff will be made redundant.

The shop had been earmarked for closure in 2018 when House of Fraser fell into administration.

However, high street mogul and Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley bought the company in a £90 million deal and vowed to keep 80 per cent of shops open.

A spokesperson for the Eden Centre Shopping Centre said its own management team are set to make an announcement "very shortly".

Earlier this year, the council said it intends to 'repurpose’ the 13,000 sqm House of Fraser building to “further economic activity and vitality in the town centre”.

This came as the council approved a Future High Streets (FHS) development programme in the hope of radically transforming parts of town.

The council was awarded £11.8 million by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) over three years in December 2020.

It is hoped that the scheme will attract new businesses, redevelop redundant sites and create housing in High Wycombe.

Government funding must be spent by March 31, 2024, according to a report.

As part of vast rejuvenation plans, the council identified the House of Fraser building, the Chilterns Shopping Centre, and other properties, including along Frogmoor.

The council said House of Fraser was a “short-term” tenant, and that a new “anchor store” with a reduced floorspace is desirable.

“House of Fraser occupy the building on a temporary short-term arrangement and there is no certainty that they will remain as tenant,” the council said. “Eden are in on-going discussions with them but regard it as prudent to look at alternative options.

“As with other shopping centres in the UK, these look at bringing in increased family-friendly activity into the building. This will result in reduced retail floorspace, aimed at attracting a new anchor store.”

The report also said it intends to ‘bring forward much-needed housing and associated benefits’ by repurposing “underutilised space” in the town.

In 2019, commercial property consultants Chandler Garvey outlined plans that HoF could be replaced with offices.