Wickes has acquired the leases of four former Homebase units following the chain’s collapse late last year.

The home improvement retailer said the stores in Dunfermline, Bury St Edmunds, Leeds Moor Allerton will reopen later this year, and all 55 employees will remain in their jobs.

The stores, which will cease trading as Homebase on 3 March, join an additional unit in Northampton which was acquired last July and is currently closed for refurbishment.

Wickes said the transaction will enable it to continue with its new store opening programme into catchment areas which do not currently benefit from a shop.

The units will be refitted and modernised in line with the new Wickes format, which the retailer noted is proven to resonate with customers and deliver a strong return on capital employed.

Wickes chief executive David Wood said: “We are delighted to be acquiring these former Homebase stores and welcoming all colleagues currently working there into the Wickes family.

“The acquisition of these four stores is a further boost to our ambitious store opening programme as we look to grow the Wickes brand, helping even more customers with their home improvement projects so they can feel house proud.”

Since Homebase’s collapse, B&Q has taken on five of its UK stores and three in the Republic of Ireland for £5.7m.

The brand’s new owner CDS Superstores – the retail group behind The Range and Wilko – has agreed to take on up to 70 of its stores, which it is currently in the process of rebranding.

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