Midlands stores under threat as Mothercare announces additional closure plans

Mothercare has more than a dozen stores across the East and West Midlands Credit: PA

Mothercare stores across the Midlands are under threat after the struggling retailer announced it would close 60 of its outlets by June next year, putting 900 jobs at risk.

No announcement has been made about which stores will close.

The news comes after Mothercare cleared a restructuring plan known as a Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA), an insolvency procedure that required the approval of the retailer’s landlords.

Mothercare had previously been given the green light to shut 50 underperforming stores with a loss of up to 800 jobs.

The group has also undertaken a significant fundraising initiative to raise £32.5 million from its existing shareholders.

It has identified savings of £19 million through the process, and hopes to realise £10 million in cash.

Mothercare stores in the Midlands include:

  • Solihull (Solihull Retail Park)

  • Stafford (Queens Retail Park)

  • Walsall (Crown Wharf)

  • Stoke (Festival Park)

  • Rugby (Elliott’s Field Retail Park)

  • Tamworth (Ventura Retail Park)

  • Leicester (Georges Retail Park)

  • Nottingham (Castle Meadow Retail Park)

  • Derby (Wyvern Retail Park)

  • Dudley (The Merryhill Centre)

  • Leamington Spa (Shires Retail Park)

  • Worcester (Friary Walk)

  • Telford (Telford Bridge Retail Park)

Clive Whiley, Mothercare’s interim executive chairman, said it had faced a "bleak future when he joined the business three months ago.

Mothercare opened its first store in 1961.

Its outlet closures come at a dismal time for the high street.

Since January, Toys R Us and Maplin have filed for administration, while fashion retailers such as New Look, Carpetright and others have embarked on radical store closure programmes.