Redevelopment of Peterborough’s former Toys r Us store set for completion this year as progress made

The store is to become an Iceland Food Warehouse and Home Bargains outlet after the demise of the former retailer which went into administration in February 2018.

Fourteen months later the derelict store was ravaged by a huge blaze.

Shortly before the fire Home Bargains had submitted its own plans for a discount shop at the premises off Bourges Boulevard, with a deal later agreed for Iceland to move in as well, creating dozens of new jobs.

Demolition of the former Toys r Us store began at the start of the year, and quick progress is being made with a new structure now in place.

Iceland told the Peterborough Telegraph last year it planned to open its new store in the late spring or early summer of 2020.

However, when demolition began in January it said the completion date had now been moved to the autumn.

And an Iceland spokesperson confirmed last week that timeframe remained the case, although it was subject to change due to the effects of the coronavirus.

He said: “The new Food Warehouse in Peterborough is scheduled to open in mid-October this year, though clearly this may change subject to any impact of the current Covid-19 outbreak on construction work and fitting out.”

Iceland’s Food Warehouses are bigger than its traditional stores and allow customers to buy products in bulk. It currently has one open at Ortongate Shopping Centre.

Home Bargains is the trading name of TJ Morris which owns the freehold of the former Toys R Us store.

The company has previously declined to state when its new store will open and did not comment when approached by the PT.

Meanwhile, demolition of the car park at Northminster began last week, with the road itself to be closed for three weeks.

Following that, Cattle Market Way will be closed from 6pm on Saturday, April 18 to 6am on Monday, April 20.

The demolition of the car park - which is said to have reached the end of its life - is due to be completed in the summer.

The site is due to be redeveloped in the future, with potential plans including apartments, a replacement car park and a new market hall.

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Demolition of former Toys r Us building in Peterborough begins ahead of new Iceland and Home Bargains stores opening