A QUARTER of all Homebase shops will close by 2019, it has been announced today.

Home Retail Group plans to shut 25 per cent of its 323 stores which are considered “unprofitable or are in decline”.

The group has already closed seven of its stores this year, and intends to close another 23 before the end of March.

It has not revealed which of the stores will close, and cannot confirm if the Basingstoke store, in Winchester Road, is at risk.

The company has also been unable to confirm how many jobs will be affected by the closures, because it hopes to redeploy some staff.

Home Retail Group, which also owns Argos, has also announced that Hombase’s managing director, Paul Loft, will stand down, following a review of the business.