A COUNCILLOR tweeted about the mystery of the fate of a popular home improvement retailers store, hinting that it could be set to close.

Councillor Richard Udall tweeted on Thursday: “Homebase in St John’s have just submitted a planning application, removing a condition dating back to 1985, to allow for the occupation and trading on the site by another occupant.

“Could this be the end of Homebase in St John’s?”

When it was built in 1985 the council placed a condition that only Homebase could occupy the site. Homebase has now applied to have that condition removed.

It is not yet known whether the Homebase store on Hylton Road will close or not, or if another franchise will accompany the store.

Amongst the application documents is a document from The Highway Authority saying it has reviewed the application in detail. The Highway Authority has no objection the application.

In the statement from Fiona Allen, development control engineer: "The Highway Authority has undertaken a robust assessment of the planning application.

"Based on the analysis of the information submitted and consultation responses from third parties the Highway Authority concludes that the proposal would not be contrary to Para. 109 NPPF and therefore there are no justifiable grounds on which an objection could be maintained."

News emerged earlier this year that the DIY chain Homebase was struggling. In August Homebase has been given the green light to press ahead with a wave of store closures that will see 42 DIY outlets shut, putting around 1,500 jobs at risk.

The retailer is closing the stores via a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA), a controversial insolvency procedure used by struggling firms to shut under-performing shops.

There is speculation that Homebase could be looking use the application as it may have an ambition to build a cafe for customers.