FatFace could become the latest big name to open in Altrincham town centre, after lodging a planning application with Trafford Council for a new store on George Street.
The lifestyle clothing retailer has applied for advertising consent for two internally illuminated fascia signs and two internally illuminated projecting signs at 13 George Street, in the Stamford Quarter.
The unit is the corner section of the former Poundland store, which has been split into three separate retail spaces as part of the continuing regeneration of the area.
It is understood that contracts have not yet been exchanged, making this very much a "planning to" move at this stage rather than a confirmed opening. No firm date has been set, although the retailer is understood to be targeting the autumn.
If it goes ahead, FatFace would join a growing cluster of lifestyle and outdoor brands on George Street, following the recent arrivals of Crew Clothing and Mountain Warehouse.
The space FatFace is eyeing was previously occupied by Wilko until the chain collapsed into administration in September 2023.
Poundland took over the unit in October 2023 but was unable to agree new lease terms with the landlord, closing just eight months later in June 2024. The building has stood vacant since.
Earlier this year, Bruntwood and Trafford Council submitted plans to redevelop the empty unit into three separate retail spaces.
The application comes amid a sustained push to reinvent the Stamford Quarter. Recent years have seen the opening of Foundation, a co-working and leisure development featuring a 375 sq m living biophilic wall, now home to hospitality names including Nell's Pizza, Yum Cha, Lane7 and Starbucks.
On the retail side, recent years have brought new openings from Mountain Warehouse, Crew Clothing and the first bricks-and-mortar concept store for online beauty retailer LOOKFANTASTIC.
Founded in 1988, FatFace is a UK lifestyle clothing, footwear and accessories brand that markets itself under the "Made for Life" banner and holds B Corp certification. It was acquired by retail giant Next plc in 2023 in a £115m deal.
A new store would fit the company's stated direction of travel. In its most recent accounts, covering the year to 25 January 2025, the business reported that online growth had slowed and that trade was "much stronger in stores as customers head back to the high street".
FatFace currently operates over 190 stores across the UK and Ireland.
