H&M Ipswich will close on Sunday but council keen to keep it in town

Major clothing retailer H&M will close its store in a Suffolk town on Sunday – but this may not be the end of its presence on the high street.

The Swedish brand revealed it would be closing in Ipswich earlier this week, meaning it would cease trading around the busiest time of the year.

However, a council has expressed interest in keeping it and other businesses in the town, stating it could help find alternative premises.

Councillor John Cook, the mayor of Ipswich, said Ipswich Borough Council remains committed to ensuring the retail town centre continues attracting shops.

He noted it was unfortunate the retailer will not be trading over the Christmas period, but has offered to extend an olive branch should it wish to return to the town in the future.

A spokesperson for H&M said the firm has noticed a rapid change in customer behaviour in recent years that it cannot ignore, and wants to be where its customers are.

It wishes to continue integrating both physical and digital stores.

They added: "Our ambition is to continue investing in our customers, open new stores where we see opportunities and develop our digital channels.

"We continuously evaluate how we should invest in stores and sometimes decisions must be made to enable long-term growth. This means that we sometimes need to close stores.

"This decision has been made for our Ipswich store."

It will not comment further at this time.

Its Colchester and Bury St Edmunds stores will remain open.

H&M is the latest business to leave the Ipswich town centre, having decided to close 1-in-5 stores in the country.

Others, such as Debenhams, BHS, Patisserie Valerie and others have gone out of business or left in recent years.

However, recent arrivals include The Botanist and Deichmann – with Ipswich Borough Council buying the old Burtons, where it is located – which Cllr Cook stated showed the council's commitment to ensuring vacant lots are used.

The council would act as a broker should the clothing store choose to open a new store in the town.

However, many of the lots it owns in the town centre are already filled.

Cllr Cook said the authority would be keen to assist to keep them on the high street.

He added: "We want people to have as much variety when shopping as possible, and we’re always eager to work with businesses interested in trading in Ipswich.

“It’s a shame H&M will miss out on such a busy time of year, but we look forward to welcoming them back with open arms.

“We have faith in the town centre and want businesses to have faith in it. Anything within our power to help, we will try to give.”

The building H&M currently occupies is owned by Frasers Group.

The firm has been approached for comment as to its plans for the building and other vacant lots in the town centre, such as the former BHS, which it also owns.