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‘It’s been missed’: Poundland prepares to open temporary Elgin store tomorrow after fire

Preparations are being made at the temporary Poundland in Elgin. Image: DC Thomson
Preparations are being made at the temporary Poundland in Elgin. Image: DC Thomson

Elgin is preparing to welcome Poundland back to the town centre after the retailer was forced to close in August following a fire.

Doors are due to open at a temporary store on Saturday while repairs and refurbishment work continues at its permanent base

The retailer has been hit with problems at its Elgin store after its building was sealed off in 2018 as water seeping through the roof over decades brought it to the brink of collapse.

However, the firm has committed to staying in Elgin after buying the stricken property, making it the first store it has ever owned outright, and funding its redevelopment.

poundland fire
Parts of the Poundland store in Elgin were badly damaged by fire in August. Image: DC Thomson

Work remains underway to repair the section of the store damaged by fire as well as rebuild the former premises to house a new permanent Poundland store with flats above.

Documents submitted to planners explained the original building, which was built in 1856 as a house and bank, had likely been affected by “inherent flaws” with the Victorian design.

This summer, the building went up in flames. and a 15-year-old boy was charged in connection with the fire which was tackled by ten fire crews after the alarm was raised at about 6pm on August 10.

The shop, which was being refurbished at the time, was extensively damaged.

An artist impression of the redeveloped Poundland building on Elgin High Street, which has already been demolished. Image: Poundland

‘A building that’s been missed’

The temporary Poundland can be found in the vacant Poundstretcher store on Thunderton Place, next to TK Maxx, just around the corner from the High Street store.

John Divers, councillor for Elgin City South, has welcomed the return of Poundland ahead of the Christmas lights coming on the same day.

He said: “It’s obviously been a building that’s been missed, so it can only be a positive thing for Elgin’s town centre.

“It’ll probably fit in fine with the Christmas lights switch on as well.”

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