By HELEN COMPSON

Published at 13:26, Thursday, 22 May 2008

THE owner of Robb’s this week insisted space for the Hexham department store could be found within the £40million redevelopment of its premises.

Last week, the owners of the Robb’s building – international property company Buccleuch Group – announced its plans to build a new retail complex on the site.

The company is preparing to submit a planning application to construct a very modern, open-plan building that would be “truly remarkable”, said a spokesman.

But David Thompson, managing director of the Vergo Retail group, which operates Robb’s, said the inference it was being designed to attract a major high street chain was wide of the mark.

The new building will house Robb’s, he insisted.

However, Buccleuch Property’s commercial property director Nick Waugh refused to be drawn on the matter.

Rather than confirm that Robb’s would indeed be the tenant of the new building, he merely reiterated the comments made in a previous statement, recognising the importance of store as a “retail landmark”.

Mr Thompson, who was at the helm of the company that previously owned Robb’s – Owen Owen – when it went into administration last year, said Buccleuch’s proposals were merely a fallback.

“When we went into administration, I think Buccleuch Group panicked – they wanted an insurance plan in case we didn’t survive,” he said.

“But they are not going to evict us. As far as I’m concerned, we are still in the driving seat.”

Expectations that a major department store chain would be interested in coming to Hexham were unrealistic, he said.

“Hexham is too small – no major chain will want that site. It will never be a John Lewis or House of Fraser or Debenhams.

“I think Hexham would be hard-pressed to find a store to replace Robb’s.”

He said that the store was in a win-win situation.

If the redevelopment went ahead, Robb’s would be operating out of an enhanced building.

If not, then the business was going from strength to strength anyway.

“Either way I’m comfortable,” he said.

Even though Buccleuch’s £40million proposal called for the demolition of the existing building and construction from the ground upwards, Robb’s could continue to trade throughout.

“I think it could be a piece by piece redevelopment of the existing building, and we could move our departments around the premises accordingly,” he said.

“Personally, I think this plan is a positive move.”

Bucking the trend, Robb’s had surpassed its profitable trading figures for 2006, despite difficult trading conditions nationwide, said Mr Thompson.

The Robb’s food hall had continued to be very successful, despite the arrival of Tesco and Waitrose in the town.

Many of the franchises and concessions, including the beauty salon, new coffee shop and the perfume department, were thriving. And the future of the town’s post office, on the ground floor, was secure, he insisted.

“We are experimenting with and enhancing what we sell in Robb’s – all the time moving towards what the customers want and buy,” he said.

In his statement on behalf of Buccleuch Group last week, Mr Waugh said that a new lease had been signed with Vergo Retail.

“The agreement has been created to build stability for the store's owners and its staff and to ably assist its position as the number one retail destination within Hexham, but also to provide us with flexibility when it comes to the future development of the site,” said Mr Waugh.

“Robb’s is an important retail landmark in the heart of Hexham, spanning some 190 years. Robbs, along with other major retailers help attract thousands of shoppers into the city centre every week.”

He stressed that the redevelopment would only be carried out after a full public consultation. Building work is expected to begin some time during the next three years.

Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk