The future of an empty town centre Debenhams store has been revealed.

Rumours over what the prominent building, in New Road, Gravesend, would become have been rife in the community as the unit has sat vacant for the past three years.

But it is now understood the space is set to reopen as a Poundland shop.

The discount retailer is seeking advertisement consent to install a new illuminated sign on the shopfront and replace the windows and door signs.

In the application form, it states the new branding would be in place until February 2029, if approved by council officers.

A decision is expected by Tuesday, April 23, but it is not known when the store will official open for customers.

There are already two Poundland stores in Gravesend which can be found in the St George’s Centre and Imperial Retail Park.

However, it is also not yet known if these will close once the new branch in New Road opens, or if this will be an additional shop.

When asked about the plans, a spokesman for Poundland told KentOnline he could not confirm a new or replacement location in Gravesend.

To see more planning applications and other public notices for your area, click here.

The former Debenhams unit closed its doors for the final time on May 2, 2021, after the retail giant fell into administration and then liquidation.

It came after years of trying to balance the books amid a changing retail landscape.

There were hopes the store could continue trading, however, these were quashed when online fashion retailer Boohoo announced it would be taking over the 242-year-old brand – and had no plans to keep any of the 118 outlets open.

On its last day, customers flooded to the Gravesend department store to capitalise on the last-minute deals and were seen forming long queues outside.

The decision to close its stores was described as a “devastating blow to the high street” by one union at the time and around 12,000 jobs were lost nationwide.