Poundland is set to open the doors to a unique new store on Saturday. The branch on High Street in Elgin is the only store it owns outright in the UK and its opening comes after an extensive six-year refurbishment of the heritage building in the heart of the town’s centre.
And it will also see a first for the discount chain – it is selling four renovated flats which are above it. Two are already available to buy having gone on the market on Wednesday.
The budget chain bought the store in 2019 after the previous owner was unable to carry out remedial works to the listed building. Beginning life in 1856 as the first Royal Bank of Scotland Elgin Branch and then becoming a temperance hotel, it went on to be the town’s Woolworths before Poundland acquired the lease in 2009.
However the building had serious structural issues that would ultimately mean it needed to be carefully dismantled before being reconstructed. That was a complex process, with progress interrupted by water leaks, the pandemic, the disconnection from the neighbouring buildings and an alleged arson attempt that threatened the whole project.
But while the ownership and history of the building on its own makes it unique in the Poundland estate, the store also has four special surprises upstairs too. Because in addition to carrying an extensive range of homewares and clothing, Poundland has also created four flats for purchasers to buy.
Two are now featured on Rightmove and available to buy. This is the first time Poundland has ever sold properties for the public to own.
All four buyers will have the chance to be a part of Elgin’s historic high street, and one lucky buyer will have their apartment styled with all the latest Poundland homeware and décor as it shows off its new ranges.
However they cost a lot more than the usual £1 price of many of the chain’s regular products with a listing price from £85,000. However one buyer will get an even more special bargain because one apartment has been decked out with scores of products that cost £1 or less from the store below.
The flats are all highly insulated and served by an air source heat pump making them energy efficient too. All four and are being marketed by Belvoir Moray Limited. Elgin’s refurbished store in Elgin will be managed by Gerry McAloon who was also the manager in the same building when it was a Woolworths store.
Gerry has a 31-year history of working in the building for both Woolworths and Poundland. He was determined to be managing the store when it moved back from its temporary home elsewhere in the town after a fire that set back the restoration project.
Alan Smallman, Poundland’s transformation director who led the project to restore the building was delighted the store would open this weekend. He said: “Bringing the building back to life and restoring it to its former glory has been no easy task but we know how much this building means to the people of Elgin and Moray.
“We hope the love we’ve shown it will be a catalyst for more investment into Elgin and its high street. I’d like to thank the whole team that’s helped bring us back home here in Elgin.”
Cllr Marc Macrae, Chair of Moray Council’s Economic Development and Infrastructure Services Committee said: “I add my congratulations to the Poundland team’s efforts in refurbishing an iconic Moray building and giving the centre of Elgin a much-welcomed boost. It’s especially heartening to see the store about to start trading again and hope the staff enjoy being back in their own building in the busy lead up to Christmas.
“I’m sure there will be plenty of interest in the flats becoming available and it will be great to see more residential property being enjoyed in the town centre. There is much to be impressed about with this whole project from Poundland and I look forward to seeing further development work in the town centre to meet the aspirational aims we have for Moray.”
Gerry McAloon said “I simply cannot wait to be back open in our home on Elgin’s high street once more. The whole team will be ready on Saturday to show them our fantastic new store.” The restoration of the building has been made possible by the partnership of LDN Architects llp, Torrance Partnership, NARRO, Cdmm Uk Limited, Safehands, Highland Temporary Works, Morgan Sindall, David Smith Contractors, Darroch & Allan and Tremlett Turner and the support of Moray Council.