Retail giant to open two Yorkshire stores

Debenhams has committed to opening a store at the Broadway site in Bradford, which is being developed by Westfield.

Work on the long-awaited shopping centre could start next year following the decision to downsize the scheme from 100 shops to 75.

Debenhams hopes to open the new Bradford store in 2013 or 2014.

The Barnsley store will be located at Barnsley Markets in the town centre and will open in 2014 or 2015. Both stores will employ 200 staff.

The store openings are part of a scheme to open nine new Debenhams stores over the next four years.

The store giant also plans to modernise 45 existing stores. The first 20 stores to receive a makeover next year will include Harrogate and Hull.

Chief executive Michael Sharp said the expansion was a strong signal about the group’s commitment to the UK high street.

Mr Sharp, who took over as chief executive last month, said: “This is a strong signal that the UK high street is alive and well and we are backing it 100 per cent.”

The expansion update came as the firm said pre-tax profits increased 10 per cent to £166.1m in the 53 weeks to September 3 as it benefited from selling more of its higher margin exclusive ranges.

Debenhams’ full-year profits improved despite a 0.3 per cent fall in like-for-like sales excluding VAT.

Its margins were under pressure as it was forced to put on more discounts to shift stock and it struggled to pass on rising cotton prices to consumers.

But this was partly offset by selling more higher margin exclusive products such as its Designers at Debenhams ranges.