Hundreds of jobs to be axed with closure of Debenhams warehouse in Peterborough

Exterior of Debenham's warehouse at Kingston Park, Hampton. EMN-200112-124351009

The closure blow comes just weeks after it was announced that the 242-year-old department store chain, which has operated a distribution centre at Kingston Park, Peterborough, for 12 years, was the subject of a liquidation process.

News of the job losses was announced at a meeting of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority’s skills committee, which is now putting together an action plan to help Debenhams’ staff.

Peterborough City Council leader, Councillor John Holdich asked the committee: “There has been another large scale redundancy in Peterborough at the Debenhams warehouse where 520 jobs are to go - although not all in Peterborough - are we plugged into this?

“Is there anything we can do to help those being made redundant?”

An combined authority officer told the committee: “By tomorrow we should have an action plan as to what we can do to help those employees at the Debenhams warehouse.

“We will be co-ordinating with Opportunity Peterborough.”

Afterwards, Cllr Holdich said: “It is a very sad start to the new year for a lot of people.”

He said that Opportunity Peterborough and City College Peterborough were looking at ways to provide help for the Debenhams staff who are expected to leave by the end of the month.

North West Cambridgeshire MP Shailesh Vara said: “This is devastating news for such a large number of people.

“It is always difficult when someone loses their job but it is especially so given the present circumstances.

“It is also important to remember that many of these people will have families to support and so the impact goes well beyond those losing their jobs.”

The Debenhams administrators FRP Advisory have been approached for a comment.

Workers in Peterborough face bleak Christmas as Debenhams prepares to close