The new life for BHS stood empty for eight years when the fashion giant took over

SHOPPERS are stunned as a fashion giant is finally set to take over a vacant BHS store that has been collecting dust for eight years.

A sprawling 25,000 sq ft Sports Direct is set to open in the center of Ipswich in late summer.

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The building in Buttermarket has been empty since 2016 following the collapse of BHS, which resulted in the loss of 11,000 jobs nationally.

Terry Baxter, chairman of the Ipswich Central business group, welcomed the news as “a really important part of the regeneration of the town centre”.

He told BBC he hopes the move will act as a catalyst for more businesses to move to the city centre.

Along with Sports Direct, a Frasers Group spokesperson announced that other brands including USC, Evans Cycles and GAME will be joining the store.

“We are delighted to be opening a new 25,000 sq ft Sports Direct store, located in Ipswich’s Butter Market.

“The store will provide customers with access to the world’s best sports and lifestyle brands.”

They added: “The store will open at the end of the summer.”

Sports Direct already has a store on Carr Street in Ipswich town centre, which will close after the larger site in Buttermarket opens.

It also has a store east of the city in Ransomes Europark.

The news received mixed reactions from local residents who had long been waiting to see what would happen to the vacant site.

One local responded to the announcement on Facebook, saying: “Great news.”

Another wrote: “Good move going there…I can see it will be packed with people than going down the street…safer and easier to navigate around and more comfortable…..”

“About time!” a third agreed.

However, other comments pointed to continued frustration with the way the high street was managed.

“Believe it when I see it,” wrote one Ipswich resident.

Another said: “All they do is move. What goes into the retail space they leave behind?”

It comes as major retailer Mountain Warehouse – which has 250 UK branches – announced it would close one of its stores.

But it’s not all bad news for the chain, as it has opened eleven new stores since last year.

Meanwhile, it’s closing time for a beloved bicycle shop that has the “best service ever.”

Frasers Group-owned Evans Cycles will pull down the shutters on its Fitzrovia store in west London in late spring.