Next Home to close on St. Brigid’s Day, retailer will ‘endeavour to relocate staff’

The British retail giant confirmed its furniture and homeware store at Crescent Link will be closing on St. Brigid’s Day.

"We can confirm that the store will be closing on February 1, 2024. We will endeavour to relocate as many staff as possible to other local stores,” a spokesperson said.

Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said: “The news of the closure of the Next Home store in the Crescent Link Retail Park is gutting news for all of the staff who work there and their families.

"It will also be disappointing to the many people in Derry who patronise this location.

“This news couldn’t have come at a worse time ahead of Christmas and I’d like to express my solidarity with staff at this difficult time.

"My office has been directly contacted by staff impacted and we’ll do everything we can to support them throughout this process."

Mr. Eastwood said he has contacted Next and will be seeking a meeting to understand the reasons behind the closure.

“Next operates a number of other stores in our city and I will be asking if there’s any opportunity for the existing staff to be redeployed so they don’t lose their jobs altogether,” said the MP.

“The closure of this store will leave a significant space in the retail park vacant and it’s important that we make every effort to attract a new tenant to our city to boost the local economy and to create jobs to replace those we’ve lost."

Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson said news that Next Home is to close will be a devastating blow to workers, families and the local economy.

She said: “Workers at Next Home in the Waterside are facing the prospect of losing their jobs as the company has announced that the Crescent Link store will close in February 2024.

“This news will be a huge blow for workers at the store, their families and the local economy, coming just weeks before Christmas and as people are already dealing with the rising cost of living and I want to offer my full solidarity to them.

“It is vital that Next engages immediately with workers and their representatives and keep them updated on all developments and if possible relocate the staff to other stores."

Ulster Unionist Alderman Darren Guy said it was ‘extremely worrying for the 25 staff that work in the store’.

"The company may have stated that they will attempt to repost staff between the other two stores in the city, but it is extremely unlikely that all 25 staff can be accommodated within these stores.

"Many will face the prospect of having no job come February, and with the current cost of living crisis, it is extremely worrying for the staff,” said Ald. Guy.