The Homebase store in Lincoln's St Marks Shopping Centre is the latest of the beleaguered DIY chain's stores to be earmarked for closure, Insight DIY reported this week.

Signs appeared outside the store at the weekend confirming a closure date of 11th May, after a clearance sale.

 A Homebase spokesperson said: “We can confirm that the Lincoln Homebase store is set to close on May 11. Team members at the store have been informed and we are working to support them as much as possible.”

Two other stores on the site - Maplin and Toys R Us - have both closed in recent weeks, both businesses having gone into administration.

Homebase customers will have to travel to Newark, Sleaford, Scunthorpe or Grantham for their shopping once the Lincoln branch closes.

This story was first published here: http://www.insightdiy.co.uk/news/homebase-lincoln-faces-the-bunnings-axe/6152.htm

Meanwhile, Insight DIY also reports that Wesfarmers has called upon Boston Consulting Group (BCG) for support in reviving the ailing Bunnings/Homebase chain in the UK.

The Press Association reports that BCG has been brought onboard to help Damian McLoughlin and the rest of the UK senior leadership team as part of a strategic business review by Wesfarmers.

Wesfarmers will reveal its plans for the DIY chain in June. Earlier this year, it revealed that it had taken a £584m write-down as a result of the acquisition, resulting in a widening of half-year losses from £28 million to £97 million.

At the time, the managing director of Wesfarmers, Rob Scott, said that up to 40 stores could be closed, with the loss of 2,000 jobs.

http://www.insightdiy.co.uk/news/bunningshomebase-calls-in-consultancy-giant/6172.htm