A New Vision for the Former House of Fraser Building Is Finally Revealed

Published on: 14 Oct, 2026
Updated on: 14 Oct, 2026

A new Vision for House of Fraser is finally revealed

How the North Street entrance could look. Image – Green & Partners

By Daisy Edwards

There is, at last, a new vision for the former House of Fraser site and it could bring back into business the luxury shopping experience that Guildford was once known for.

Our town is becoming a hub for modern developments around the historic town centre, with the Arch & Bloom housing development taking over the new Friary Quarter and St Mary’s Wharf being developed on the site of the iconic Debenhams store. However, one building has been central to the shopping culture in the town for many years: House of Fraser.

The North Street frontage of the store premises. Stacey Harris Wikipedia

Since its closure in 2023, the town centre has not felt the same, with many native Guildfordians lamenting the loss of an iconic department store. With Debenhams also closing, there is a feeling that a bygone era of shopping in-person, in dedicated department stores, has quietly died following the rise of online shopping and the fallout from Covid-19.

The department store building has been left untouched since it closed, with videos circulating online of young urban explorers walking through the eerie, abandoned halls.

Young Urban Explorers have roamed the abandoned building (urban_odyssey via TikTok)

The once-iconic glass dome now stands empty (urban_odyssey via TikTok)

However, the landmark building has since been sold by Canada Life to Brighton-based property developer Moretons Investments Ltd reportedly for half the original asking price.

Moretons has assigned commercial real estate agency Green & Partners to handle the leasing and the agency has revealed massive plans to transform the building into a mixed-use destination featuring retail, leisure, office space and most excitingly, a premium rooftop restaurant.

Many assumed the site would go the way of many others in Guildford and it would become luxurious residential housing, but it looks as though the space is open to retailers, food and beverage proprietors and companies that need centralised office spaces.

It won’t be a hard sell for potential retailers to take over the space formerly occupied by House of Fraser, because as the new plans revealed by Green & Partners state: “The building’s scale presents a rare opportunity, providing the potential for a flagship large destination in a prime location.”

The plans include offices, retail spaces, and dining experiences. Credit: Green & Partners

Capitalising on the town’s existing premium dining and hospitality scene, a new rooftop restaurant in the space would fit in nicely amongst the existing Ivy, Ivy Asia, Coppa Club and Megan’s by the Castle.

The Jellicoe Garden could offer a unique dining experience. Green & Partners

There can be no hints at when this huge development will begin until a new tenant is found, but the marketing from Green & Partners is likely to put some faith back into the local community and hope there is still sufficient life in the town centre for such a venture.

Although shopping in the High Street and North Street will not be exactly as it was before, Guildford could again become a place people travel to for a day of shopping to get away from the hustle and bustle of London, instead of a stop on the way there.