PLANS are in place to open a new sportswear shop in Bournemouth town centre – which could leave another shop empty. 

Frasers Group has applied to BCP Council for permission to take over the former H&M unit in Commercial Road, Bournemouth, and open a new Sports Direct store. 

Currently there is a Sports Direct in The Avenue shopping centre across the same road – meaning it is likely Frasers Group, owned by Mike Ashley, would close their existing store. 

The Daily Echo has contacted Frasers Group and The Avenue shopping centre for more details. 

Bournemouth Echo:

Read more: What should be done about 'dying' Bournemouth town centre

H&M closed its Commercial Road store in September 2021 to focus on their “long-term strategy to ensure we are offering our customers the best possible shopping experience in the right locations.” 

The building has been unoccupied since the clothes brand vacated the town centre, a closure which at the time was described by Bournemouth Town Centre BID’s chairman Martin Davies as a “pattern being repeated in town centres and high streets up and down the country, largely because of changing consumer habits".

Sports Direct sells Adidas, Puma, Nike and Under Armour amongst other sportswear brands. 

Owners Frasers Group also owns House of Fraser, which closed its Bournemouth store in March 2022.