Dickins & Jones site revamp lacks design

The former Dickins & Jones department store in London’s Regent Street will have no overarching interior design concept when it is carved up into five units, its developer Shearer Property Group has confirmed.

Fashion retailer H&M has agreed to occupy the central space in the block and will open a retail site there next year, designed by its in-house team, according to a spokeswoman. Agreements with additional retailers are expected in the coming weeks. Jigsaw, Uniqlo and Nokia are reportedly in negotiations for the units, which span the sub-basement, ground and first floors. Office space will be developed on the higher levels.

According to SPG director Adam Markwell, there are no plans to brand or design the ‘island site’ as a single destination, with each retailer designing its own space. ‘The idea is to create a series of flagship stores that will be more effective in drawing shoppers to Regent Street than Dickins & Jones was. Three other agreements are in solicitors’ hands at the moment – all flagship stores from big names. One is expected to be signed this week,’ says Markwell.

All the retailers are bound by the Crown Estate’s tight guidelines on the presentation of Regent Street. These restrict the size of projecting signs and facias. The closure of the Dickins & Jones store was announced in June 2005.