B&Q has agreed to buy three stores in Ireland from DIY retail rival Homebase for c. £3.2m (€3.9m).

B&Q Ireland Ltd will purchase two stores from HHGL Ltd, which is controlled by Hilco Capital, and one from HHGL (ROI) Ltd to add to its network of eight stores in the Republic, including three in Dublin and locations in Athlone, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Naas.

Following the conversion of the Homebase stores in Letterkenny, Navan and Waterford, B&Q will have a combined total selling area in the Republic of more than 9,300 square metres.

The stores will offer kitchen and bathroom design and installations, timber cutting, paint mixing, and click & collect as well as home and bulk delivery services.

The agreement for the stores in subject landlord and regulatory approvals, and B&Q expects it will convert three first of three outlets in the first half of next year.

The company, ultimately owned by Kingfisher PLC, which also operates Screwfix and TradePoint, is aiming to complete the conversion of all three sites by the end of 2025.

On completion of the acquisition, following a period of consultation with the employees at the three stores, they will become employees of B&Q.

“We’re delighted to be adding these three stores to our fantastic store network. We’re determined to give home improvers the choice and convenience they deserve, and these locations need a home improvement store that fulfils their need," said Graham Bell, CEO of B&Q.

“We look forward to swiftly concluding the purchase and converting the stores to the B&Q brand and offer, and to welcoming our new customers to the stores and new colleagues to the B&Q family.”

Capital expenditure relating to the store acquisitions and fit-out costs will be incurred in Kingfisher FY 2025/26.

B&Q operates more than 300 stores in the UK and Ireland and employs over 21,000 people while Kingfisher operates 2,000 stores in eight countries across Europe.

In a third quarter trading update, Kingfisher reported sales of £3.2bn, including sales of £1.6bn in the UK and Ireland. B&Q accounted for sales of £936m in Q3, a decline of 1.1% year-on-year.

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