DEBENHAMS has closed its doors for good and will not be reopening after the lockdown.

The company told the Adver this afternoon it has been unable to reach a deal with landlords Meadow Residential. The building has been home to a department store for more than half a century.

It is thought that 150 employees have lost their jobs.

READ: Pictures show stock being removed from store.

A statement from the company said: “Sadly we have been unable to agree terms with the landlord in Swindon and as a result this store will not be reopening when government restrictions are lifted.

“We greatly regret the effect on our colleagues, who have served our customers in Swindon with commitment and dedication. In the meantime our customers can continue to shop with us online as usual.”

Pictures taken at the landmark town centre store today showed empty shelves and boxes of stock, with lorries loaded up at the rear of the building.

READ MORE: InSwindon comments on Debenhams closure

One anonymous worker told the Advertiser: “Staff were on furlough. There will be the usual redundancy payout deals, this month will still be paid."

Despite losing their job, the worker added: “I wont have a job to go back to after the current pandemic is over. There's not a lot I can do, just try to find something else.

“There are people with worse problems than mine, so just soldier on, as they say.”

Falcon House was owned by investments firm Standard Life but the 1960s block was sold to Meadow Residential last year.

The floors above Debenhams were once used as office space but have been empty for years.

Standard Life did have an agreement in place with Swindon Borough Council to convert the offices above Debenhams into flats at a cost of £10m. The store would have been retained.

It is understood the council has no involvement in Meadow Residential's plans for the building. The landlord has been contacted by the Adver but has yet to respond.

The company’s website shows it has a track record of converting office blocks into flats, mainly in London and south east.

The council has adopted a policy of encouraging more housing in the town centre as a way of regenerating it. It introduced restrictions on permitted development rules on converting offices to flats, which is becoming increasingly popular in the town. The restrictions would not affect Falcon House.

The coronavirus lockdown has had a huge impact on Debenhams, which appointed administrators Geoff Rowley & Alastair Massey of FRP Advisory at the start of April.

The 242-year-old chain has 142 stores nationwide, employing 22,000 people combined.