DIY enthusiasts will have to wait before they can shop at a new B&Q store at Seacourt Retail Park in Oxford due to the coronavirus crisis.

The new store, close the Botley Interchange, replaces Homebase at the retail park and looks ready to open but a spokeswoman for the chain said it would open at a date to be fixed.

DIY and hardware stores have been classed as essential by the government.

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B&Q stores closed on Tuesday and Wednesday so the retailer could work out the safest and simplest way to support communities in providing essential products.

Oxford Mail:

B&Q outlets have switched to Click & Collect and Home Delivery Only, and its website diy.com is now open.

Graham Bell, CEO of B&Q, said: “The Covid-19 crisis continues to evolve, so I wanted to update you on some changes here at B&Q.

“Over the last 48 hours we have been working hard to create a service that focuses on providing essential products for repair and maintenance of the home.

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“This means we can keep supplies open and give our customers the best possible service to ensure their homes are safe, warm and in working order.

“In order to do this in the safest possible way for our colleagues and customers, we are making some changes.”

Mr Bell said diy.com would be the ‘primary store’ for the time being.

He added: “The range will be limited for the Click & Collect service to ensure we do everything we can to limit unnecessary purchases and ensure our customers and colleagues are protected from needless contact.”

Oxford Mail:

Customers can now use the contactless Click &Collect service from their local store, allowing items to be picked up from an allocated parking zone where items will be brought to their car.

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The chain is now working to improve its home delivery service to enable it to provide a fuller product range.

Stores will, for the time being, remain closed to customers for browsing and buying items.

Mr Bell added: “We urge customers to follow all the Government’s social distancing guidelines and to shop responsibly for essential needs only.

“The safety of our customers and colleagues remains our top priority.”

At the end of last year it emerged that Seacourt Tower and Seacourt Retail Park were up for sale and could sell for about £65m, according to retail industry insiders.

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Earlier this year it emerged that Seacourt Tower and the retail park had sold for more than £65m after owners British Airways Pension Trustees put the 11-acre site, comprising 80,000 sq ft of retail and 90,000 sq ft of offices, up for sale.

Leasing agents Savills said a deal had been completed, with the sale ‘significantly ahead’ of the asking price.

The buyer has not yet been confirmed but it is understood that real estate and private equity investment firm Brockton Capital made an offer of £75m to £80m.

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Retail businesses listed as tenants are Dreams, Sports Direct and Decathlon and there is also a Costa drive-thru.