Former Taunton Debenhams building up for sale

The building is up for sale for £1.75 million

The former Debenhams building in Taunton has been put up for sale, four years after the shop closed.

Ropemaker Properties, the owner of the building, has listed the shop for £1.75 million.

A spokesperson for the company said: "We are confident of finding a suitable buyer for this prominent and high-profile building.

"We want to see something positive happening here as soon as possible, and we hope to find a buyer with the expertise to secure the future of the site."

Ropemaker Properties had previously applied to demolish the building and build 92 flats in its place, but those plans were scrapped in 2023.

Former staff member Margaret Harris, who worked there for more than 37 years, said: "The department store brought people into town because it sold everything.

"It needs to be a department store again."

Taunton and Wellington MP Gideon Amos, who had been campaigning for the store to reopen, told BBC Somerset the building "has been empty for far too long.

"It's a really positive opportunity that it's on the market, it's important it gets brought back into use.

"It would be great if the building could be kept. It is a landmark in the town centre," he said.

Debenhams closed its doors in Taunton in May 2021

The 7,815 sq m (84,127 sq ft) building sits over five floors in a prominent location in Taunton's town centre.

Andrew Maynard, partner at Alder King, who are managing the sale, said: "Although the commercial property market remains challenging, this building's enviable town centre location combined with Taunton's ambitious regeneration plans, means we are confident of finding a suitable buyer for this high-profile site."