Hopes that a major retailer will reopen its vacant Norwich department store have been rekindled after its parent company submitted fresh plans.
Frasers Group, which owns shopping giant House of Fraser, has proposed an overhaul of the external advertisement displays at Chantry Place shopping centre.
The store announced in December that it would be closing for a "short period" but did not confirm how long it would be keeping its doors shut.
When asked by this newspaper, the company declined to say whether any workers would be made redundant as a result of the closure and refused to comment about the future of the shop.
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This prompted fears of staff cuts and raised questions about whether House of Fraser, which covers three floors within Chantry Place, would ever return.
But a fresh application to Norwich City Council has revealed plans for a redevelopment of the external advertising on the shopping mall.
Under the proposals, the existing House of Fraser sign would be removed and replaced by one reading 'Frasers'.
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Branding for Sports Direct, USC, Game and Evans Cyles - all owned by Frasers Group - would then be established to the side of the department store's ground floor entrance.
The application comes as owner Mike Ashley continues to rebrand House of Frasers across the UK as new luxury mini-chains known as Frasers.
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When asked about the closure of the Chantry Place store last year, a spokesman for the store said: "We can confirm that we will be closing House of Fraser in Chantry Place, Norwich, for a short period.
"However, we are pleased to announce that we will be refurbishing the space to open a new and elevated retail destination, that will bring the very best brands and experience to our consumers in Norwich, next year."
Frasers Group declined to comment when asked for an update on works after lodging the plans this week.
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