THE building that housed Barrow’s Debenhams store has been sold.

The former department store unit as well as three nearby shops and the rooftop car park changed hands following an auction.

The units sold for £3 million in 2017 but, following the closure of the department store giant, they sold for just £600,000.

It has now changed hands following a sale by auctioneers Acuitis.

The well-loved department store closed last month after the company collapsed.

The closure of all the chain’s shops was confirmed after online fashion retailer Boohoo agreed to only buy its website and brand in a £55 million rescue deal.

Previous listings for the space showed that Debenhams paid nearly £450,000 a year in rent on the Portland Walk site.

The company’s 25-year lease was due to run out in December, according to listings.

Also sold was an empty shop as well the units currently used by the Body Shop and WH Smith.

The WH Smith lease provides a ‘mutual rolling option’ to determine subject to four months’ notice, the listing said.

The 106-space rooftop car park also made up part of the deal.

A listing described the parade of shops as a ‘prime retailing location’.

It added: “Debenhams went into liquidation in December 2020.

“The Debenhams brand was purchased earlier this year but the intention was to close all stores and the Barrow branch is now closed.

“A monthly turnover rent was being paid up until January 2021 equivalent to two per cent of turnover.

“The lease to Department Stores Realisation Limited has yet to be disclaimed.”

Colin Garnett, the manager of Barrow’s Business Improvement, said the department store’s closure was a ‘big loss’ to the town.

He suggested it could be converted for ‘leisure or tourism’ use.

The closure of Debenhams follows that of other national chains that neighbour it in Portland Walk, with jewellery shop Pandora to close at the end of the month.