“It is always disappointing when a business leaves the high street" - Council reacts to Poundland's King Street closure in South Shields

On Friday, March 6, the Poundland store in South Shields will be closing its shop at 100 – 102 King Street.

The company confirmed to the Gazette that it would be closing due to an issue with rent and a dispute with business rates transitional relief.

The firm said it had been unable to get a new rental agreement with its landlord in South Shields

Poundland’s previous close competitor Poundworld closed back in 2018 after the company went into administration and more shops have been closing their doors on King Street in the past five years including H Samuel, Vision Express, Burton, Mothercare and BHS.

In January 2020, it was announced that an application had been lodged for ‘prior notification of proposed demolition’ for a large section of the road.

In response to the announcement of Poundland’s closure, Councillor John Anglin, Lead Member for Regeneration and Economy, said: “It is always disappointing when a business leaves the high street and we hope that the property is re-let as soon as possible.

“The decline of the high street is a national issue, affected by the rise of online shopping.

“However, here in South Shields, we are doing all we can to make the town centre an attractive place for business with the ongoing South Shields 365 regeneration masterplan which will increase footfall among shoppers.

“The town centre has already undergone a massive transformation. The creation of our cultural venue, The Word, and construction of the new £21m Transport Interchange have both resulted in hundreds of thousands of extra visitors coming to the town centre each year.

“The South Shields 365 regeneration masterplan aimed to inject a new vitality to South Shields, and these material changes are bringing with them a renewed confidence to the town."

The store will remain open until the first week of March and it is hoped that customers will continue to shop there during this time.